Paula, the daughter of a destitute tenant farmer, becomes a maid for Count Bellunita. Her master, Vincent, is blind and possesses a notoriously difficult personality. Having lived a hard life marked by poverty and domestic violence, Paula faces the challenges of serving the ill-tempered, sightless count while dealing with her own deep-seated self-loathing. Despite being described as 'ugly' by herself and others, her presence becomes increasingly significant in the count's lives.
