Suddenly alone after the death of her husband, a mother seeks refuge with her relatives, who help her to endure the unbearable. In the end, it's always harder for the bereaved than for the dead.

51-year-old Sakurako Sato is a single, poor woman who works for a home care service. When she was young, her father failed in business and evaporated, leaving her with a large debt. She has raised her younger sister, Umeko and has reached this age without a single happy memory of love or fun. In addition, Sakurako has a very poor appearance, and children in the neighborhood make fun of her, calling her "Frankenwoman," which makes her despicable to others. While taking care of Tamura, a wealthy old man she is visiting, Sakurako meets a handsome boy named Ryuji. Sakurako falls in love with him at first sight. When it is eventually discovered that Ryuji is in debt and is being threatened by yakuza gangsters, Sakurako struggles to raise money to help him by working at night at a cabaret club for mature women.