 Trelkovsky, a Polish file clerk in Paris, moves into a new apartment in the city. The previous tenant, Simone Choule, lies in a coma in a hospital after jumping out of her window. Trelkovsky s new neighbors are an assortment of old recluses and busybodies. While visiting the ex-tenant in the hospital, Trelkovski meets Stella, Simone s girlfriend. When Simone dies, Trelkovski obsesses over her and seems doomed to repeat her final act.