Egor meets Lucy after he accidentally brushes her with his car. Lucy is an artist and amateur actress in a children's theatre. Egor is an engineer at a tobacco factory. They are from different worlds, but it is this difference that attracts them to each other. Lucy invites Egor to "Sunless City", a performance art piece presented by her brother Alex. While black and white photos of St. Petersburg are projected on the walls of a big cube, artificial rain falls on the umbrellas held by the spectators inside. Alex perceives human life as a "sunless city". Alex has AIDS, but he hides his illness from everyone except Lucy. The overriding atmosphere of decadence at the after-party depresses Egor. He feels sorry for the people around him, but they don't need his compassion - they are all quite content, including the charming Lucy. Egor is infatuated with her and they become lovers. But soon he finds out that Lucy is addicted to drugs. Egor losses himself in his efforts to save Lucy.
