A wealthy member of the upper classes and his three sons withdraw to a country villa where they spend their days in complete idleness, having everything done for them by their young and beautiful maid. They surrender to the pleasure of sleep, while idleness permeates the tiny world of these living dead, with the exception of the woman who is the sole representative of positive values, will-power and action. Finally, the youngest son will try to break free.

In the aftermath of the Trojan Wars, Queen Hecuba takes stock of the defeated kingdom. Her son has been killed, and his widow, Andromache, is left to raise their son, Astyanax, alone. Hecuba's daughter, Cassandra, fears being enslaved by her Greek masters, while Helen of Troy risks being executed. Astyanax also becomes the focus of the Greeks' attention as the last male heir of the Trojan royal family.