Foster and his wife, Nora, have recently arrived in Qatar to assume posts as professor and surgeon, respectively, in the newly established branch of the Cornell Medical Center. They separately meet Ammon, an extraordinarily handsome medical student who aspires to obtain a residency at the Center. Their associations with Ammon revive some of the complications that caused the couple to re-locate to Qatar. Deeply disturbed by the prospect of re-living earlier traumas, Foster retreats to the desert. While he is away, Ammon becomes ill and requires surgery, which Nora decides to perform. Upon his return from his desert retreat, Foster learns from the local police commissioner the outcome of the operation and how it impacts him and his wife.