Rodney, a spoiled rich English-speaking South African, suffers an accident in which he is concussed and his spinal cord is injured, paralyzing his legs and rendering him impotent. Waking up in the hospital, he is arrogant with his nurse, Lizzie, who comes from a poor Afrikaner family. She, however, is determined not to let her prejudice against rich Anglos prevent her from giving him good care. His treatment partly consists of frequent massage, and over the weeks, the two begin to form a close relationship while both disabilities are overcome. Lizzie, assuming their relationship will continue after he is discharged, is devastated when he says that anything like that is impossible. Fortunately, he changed his mind after a week of life without her.
