In Tehran, August 1987, Roya, secretly pregnant, narrates an evening out with her vivid, magnetic friend Leila. In a cab, Roya is mesmerized by Leila, who chatters about astrology, punk music, and Greek gods while smoking with abandon. The cab driver stares, and Roya silently registers the city outside: parks built atop the unmarked graves of executed political prisoners, and the regime's interrogation traps about religious upbringing.

Leila abruptly asks Roya when someone last saw her cry naked, framing it as the highest form of intimacy. Roya, surprised at her own openness, recounts breaking down while babysitting her neighbor Nafiz's inconsolable infant because she had nowhere to set the baby down. Leila laughs warmly, affirming the moment.

They arrive at a manmade lake, where Leila walks with her hair uncovered, greeting passing men in a deep voice and being saluted back as one of them. Roya, initially terrified, becomes fascinated by Leila's transgressive glee. Leila leads her to a tall wall and insists they climb it. Climbing, Roya is reminded of her pregnancy by the ache in her breasts.

At the top, Roya is stunned to discover they are overlooking the back of the zoo's giraffe enclosure, with three giraffes within whispering distance. They sit watching the animals chew sadly. A park security guard appears and orders them down; Leila, still posing as a man, taunts him, claiming to be a soldier with his girl. The guard, enraged, threatens to call the police and leaves. Leila refuses to flee, resting her head on Roya's shoulder to linger with the giraffes a little longer.