Bess McNeill, a deeply religious Scottish woman, falls in love with and marries Jan Nyman, an oil rig worker. Their love is intense and all-consuming, providing Bess a sense of joy she has never experienced before. However, after Jan returns to work on the rig, a tragic accident leaves him paralyzed. With his life dramatically altered, Jan persuades Bess to take lovers and share the stories with him, believing it will sustain their relationship and keep him emotionally alive. Torn between her love for Jan and her rigid community's moral expectations, Bess faces a heart-wrenching dilemma.

As Bess undertakes this painful journey, she suffers ostracism and condemnation from her devoutly religious town. Despite the severe societal backlash and personal anguish, she pursues her mission driven by an unwavering belief in her love for Jan and the idea that her sacrifices will somehow heal him. As she plunges deeper into this self-destructive path, the boundary between devotion and self-annihilation blurs, leading to profound emotional and spiritual turmoil.