Maud, a college history student, is dating Christian Albrecht, the son of a prominent, wealthy family. The two are on a trip to Europe, where they take the ferry to Vienna, when Christian drowns and dies. Maud is questioned by the police. The Albrecht family has a curious pattern of death by drowning. Christian's father and grandfather both died in bodies of water, one in a pool, one in a lake. Prior to the trip, Maud had had doubts about her relationship with Christian. She had met his mother, who was quite cold towards her. Lately, Christian had become obsessed with sex, at odd times and in odd places, and she was frightened to see that side of him. On the ferry, she remembers that she threw up over the side of the boat and Christian simply watched, as he drank the last of their only water. Maud was raised by her grandmother after her parents' death. Her grandmother, Ellen, was a healer, and taught Maud how to care for the sick with ointments and poultices. Before someone died, they would whisper their sins into Ellen's ear to get them off their chest. But Maud, too weak and too squeamish, refused to take over the healing practice. On the morning of the investigation, Maud notices that her body is covered in scars and bruises. As the officer questions her, she begins to remember bits and pieces of what happened. The officer also calls in Christopher Albrecht, Christian's uncle, a powerful politician who makes Maud uncomfortable. Maud has a flashback to loosening Christian's fingers from the rail of the ferry and watching him float away. She also has a flashback to Christian sexually abusing her. There is uncertainty as to how the rest of the questioning will proceed.