11-year-old Domenica is of unknown parentage and lives in an orphanage in Naples. A year ago, Domenica was raped. The suspected rapist has leapt to his death following interrogation at police headquarters and Domenica has been asked to identify her alleged assailant. Today is Inspector Sciarra's last day in service. Fatally ill and world-weary, Sciarra doesn't think much of having to take the girl to the morgue and is more than a little reluctant to carry out this particular task. When Domenica manages to slip away from him, the inspector sets off in hot pursuit through the streets of Naples. Finally catching up with her, the unavoidable trip to the morgue must go ahead. The dead man turns out not to have been the man that raped Domenica; moreover, it transpires that the police have long been aware of this fact...