During the late 1700’s, Clara, a woman famous for her beauty and intelligence, lives with her husband, Commander Koller, in an antique mansion. Clara is terrified at the thought of her decline, and has taken Federico, a young officer fresh out of the military academy, as her lover. When her husband dies a few years later, she decides to marry Federico despite their differences in age and religious faith. But he’s reluctant to marry her for the simple reason that he’s been romantically involved with Clara’s beautiful daughter, Adelaide, for the past few months. The situation creates a conflict between the two women. Adelaide, seeing that Federico can’t chose between them decides he doesn’t deserve her and goes to live with an elderly aunt. Clara and Federico marry. But as time passes Clara and Adelaide find themselves united in their dislike for the man who ruined their lives. We see them all together in the final scene: Clara an elderly lady, Adelaide consumed with rancor and disappointment and Federico a man with grey hair who finds no satisfaction in anything outside his military career.