Summary While Sokratis Danezis is abroad for treatment, his young and unstable wife, Elina, is having an affair with the painter Ektoras, who practically lives in their house. Her friend Louiza, who lives with her and poses for Ektoras, is also in love with him and plans to kill Elina so as to keep the painter-lover to herself. When Sokratis calls from Paris and asks her to pick him up and accompany him back to Greece, Elina withdraws a rather large amount of money from the bank, planning to run away with Ektoras. On the other hand, Louiza is pondering how to react, while the lecher Manthos is blackmailing Elina, extorting money from her to keep his mouth shut.