A young man and woman meet on a bridge, both about to commit suicide by jumping into the river, and recount to each other their experiences.

After the death of a prostitute, the police uncovers a web of espionage, betrayal, murder and sex.

Josefine is a young streetwalker in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. She manages to sleep her way to the top by marrying a British aristocrat, and she delights in telling ribald stories of her sordid past to moralistic prudes.