During World War II, Sandro Ademari (Massimo Girotti), the head of a group of Italian partisans, hides at a farm to escape from the Germans. Here he meets Luisa (Lea Padovani) and soon the two marry and have a baby. After the war, Sandro, now a solicitor, succeeds in also being elected to Rome's parliament. Here he starts an extramarital affair with Germana (Patricia Neal). Sandro, now deeply involved with Germana, tries to leave Luisa (divorce wasn't legal during the 1950s in Italy), but Luisa is determined to save her marriage and arrives in Rome to discuss it with Sandro and Germana. Tragedy is just around the corner.