Ellen, a beautiful writer of Martin's, asks him to her apartment, with an unusual request that he conceive a child with her. After talking it over with Jude, he accepts under the impression that he'll get to make love to her, but she only wants him to donate semen.

It's summer, and New York is experiencing a chronic heatwave. Martin is sweltering in his apartment due to broken air-conditioning. He seeks out his building's new super, a gorgeous woman named Debra. After fixing the fan, the two of them go all the way in torrid fashion, and all is well until . . .