Follows the stories of five Iranian girls, forced to flee their homes as a result of abuse and intolerable restrictions, who find help and support in a refuge for young women in Tehran. Some of the girls eventually return to their families, thanks to the determination and patience shown by Mrs Shirazi, who runs the shelter and negotiates terms and conditions of reconciliation. Others, who feel they cannot return, are helped by her towards a rare and precious independence, finding jobs and lodgings, and standing on their own two feet for the first time in their lives.