Nicky and Uri, two young Israelis, arrive in New York and survice by committing petty thefts. After getting into scrapes, they leave Manhattan for a tiny apartment in Brooklyn. The manager of the building is Max, an authoritarian, cynical man in a wheelchair. Harold Fisher – his brother-in-law, a shy, solitary man – sees to the maintenance of the building and does odd jobs around the place. One evening, during an argument with Uri, Nicky accidentally shoots herself in the leg. The young man panics and runs away. Harold comes rushing to Nicky’s rescue. He looks after her, has her treated then helps her to look for a job. Gradually he starts to see her in a different light. Although Max is against it, these two people – whom life has weakened and made fragile – start a relationship.