A small village in a desert area on the border of Mongol and China. People have left the town after years of struggling against the encroachment of the desert on their land. Some of the few remaining in the area keep planting tree seedlings with their leader, Hungai. Village people continue to leave the town. Even Hungai's wife ends up leaving due to their daughter's illness. As Hungai drinks in despair and pain, Korean refugee Choi Soon-Hee knocks at his door with her son, Chang-Ho. Now there remains only these three in the desert who have to depend on one another to overcome the hostile environment. The three get to know each other even though they don't speak the same language.