Nelie escaped a miserable existence by becoming a frontline nurse in 1914. One day, she takes the identity of Rose, a young woman from a good family, who dies in front of her. She presents herself in her place at Madame de Lengwil's house, to become the reader of this wealthy woman.

Despite her best intentions and hard work, a single mom with two sons just can't make ends meet and is forced to depend upon credit just to get by. Desperate, she can see only one solution left to save her family: stage a hold-up.