György Bánáth landowner and Miklós Vass the teacher, on the verge of collapse, trudging all the way from Siberia where they have spent more than ten years as POWs, trying to prevent each other from falling from fatigue on the way home. Both become regular visitors to the Pálffy family and they both make amorous advances to Katinka, the beautiful daughter of the local vicar. The choice falls on György. The day after the engagement ceremony György is on his way to Budapest on account of business. In the Gellért spa he is befriended by Ella Kertessy, daughter of the nearby landowner, a beautiful coquette, and György find himself ending up as her lover. Katinka, now neglected and lonely, accepts Miklós proposal to marry him, although she is still in love with György, her unfaithful fiancé. Ella is soon back in her flirting mood, making sexual overtures to other men...