A single mother's struggle to support her child leads her into the surreal netherworld of illegal sexual enterprises, with her finally ending up in the Bibliothèque Pascal; an elegant but bizarre house of prostitution in which men can re-enact sexual scenarios inspired by great works of literature for a hefty fee.

The film's protagonist, coming out of the pub, meets Jeremiah, a stoker who sells mysterious turtles. Who is watching whom? It is not known. "Fear is not born with a person, it is an infection that can be cured."