Paulette and her husband have been running a housekeeping school. After the sudden death of her husband, Paulette discovers that the school is on the verge of bankruptcy and has to take her responsibilities.

Preteen Lou lives alone with her ridiculously immature mother, Emma, and spends her days playing with a cat, dining at a Chinese restaurant, and spying on her dreamy neighbor Tristan, documenting his every move -- until a new neighbor arrives.

Paul is preparing to leave Tajikistan, while thinking back on his adolescent years. His childhood, his mother's madness, the parties, the trip to the USSR where he lost his virginity, the friend who betrayed him and the love of his life.