40-year-old pregnant Ewa works as a biologist. She conducts drastic experiments in her home laboratory, and the plants she grows not only can physically feel the pain they enjoy, but seem to be mentally experiencing the fear she has programmed. One day a falling tree kills a man. The incident repeats itself and people are starting to say that the trees want to kill. Pawel, Ewa's husband, works as a teacher at a local school. He feels undervalued and, driven by ambition, directs his envy at his wife's subject of research. It urges the city authorities to cut down "all rotten trees" in the area to prevent any mishaps. The inhabitants completely cut down the nearby forest and finally murder the man who was defending the last, historic tree from execution.