Years ago, Marlene left her husband Leonhard, a serious, straitlaced district judge, and became the lover of Leonhard's best friend Jan, a physician. It has taken a long time for the wounds to heal, but the trio has succeeded in restoring its friendship, even if it is more tenuous than in the past... When Leonhard meets the pretty young student Anja, he is swept off his feet, and in no time at all the two are married. The two couples begin seeing each other regularly, even vacationing together. Anja, however, grows increasingly apathetic as it becomes clear to her that Leonhard will never give her the love she yearns for. When she and Jan make love one day, it seems like the logical result of a long development. They start an affair, and the cycle of lies and betrayal begins again. But this time history is not about to repeat itself...