A former graduate of the Akhun ballet school, he leaves ballet behind and becomes a regular at the eastern bazaar. He is drawn to the thrill, the risk, and the very atmosphere of the market.

In a remote Tadjik mountain village, some shepherds come across a dead body. No one knows who he is or where he's from, but they soon discover that he is not a Muslim. As the news spreads, the people decide what should be done with this "infidel."