Ludovico is an arrogant boy who grew up in the comforts and vices among money, parties, and excesses: he has known every wealth except that of the soul. Filippo is a young man who faces all suffering, poverty, and abuse in order to grow up. the former has the urge to possess a phony independence, the other feels the need to fail to respect his own body and values in order to survive. their encounter will mark the rest of their existence.

Ferdinando Cefalù is desperate to marry his cousin, Angela, but he is married to Rosalia and divorce is illegal in Italy. To get around the law, he tries to trick his wife into having an affair so he can catch her and murder her, as he knows he would be given a light sentence for killing an adulterous woman. He persuades a painter to lure his wife into an affair, but Rosalia proves to be more faithful than he expected.