MARIA NOVOTNA

MARIA NOVOTNA IS A STUDENT OF THE ODESA MUSIC ACADEMY IN UKRAINE, WHO ACCOMPANIES CHILD PRODIGY YEVGENY DIMITROV TO LONDON AT THE START OF A MAJOR CAREER AS A CONCERT PIANIST. AT FIRST HE RECEIVES POSITIVE REVIEWS AND SUCCESS SEEMS ASSURED, UNTIL IT IS DISCOVERED HE IS A HEROIN ADDICT.AS A RESULT HIS CAREER DECLINES, AND FALLING ON HARD TIMES, HE AND MARIA ATTEMPT TO FIND WORK AND FALL INTO THE HANDS OF A GANG OF RUSSIAN TRAFFICKERS, WHO SUPPLY YEVGENY WITH DRUGS AND FORCE MARIA INTO PROSTITUTION IN ORDER TO PAY FOR YEVGENY'S DRUG HABIT.DESPERATE TO ESCAPE SHE ENLISTS THE HELP OF A WEALTHY MAN, STEPHEN KLINE WHO PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR YEVGENY'S REHABILITATION. BOTH YEVGENY AND MARIA ARE DEEP IN DEBT TO STEPHEN KLINE, WHO NOW CONFESSES HIS LOVE FOR MARIA. AS YEVGENY'S CAREER REVIVES MARIA IS DETERMINED TO SIEZE HER OWN CHANCE OF SUCCESS. HOWEVER, STEPHEN KLINE TELLS HER SHE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN YEVGENY, AND THE SECURITY OF A MAN SHE DOESN'T LOVE. THE INVASION OF UKRAINE BY RUSSIA CONVINCES HER TO ABANDON MARRIAGE TO STEPHEN KLINE AND FIGHT FOR HER INDEPENDENCE. BEFORE SHE RETURNS SHE DECIDES TO LIBERATE THE WOMEN WHO WERE ENSLAVED BY THE TRAFFICKERS.BUT A MEMBER OF THE GANG TAKES HIS REVENGE AND STABS HER THROUGH THE HEART, LEAVING YEVGENY TO RETURN ALONE TO THE UKRAINE TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.