In a dreary, bleak winter in the Adriatic coastal city of Rimini, the handsome Daniele Dominic Daniele Dominici came to a high school here to teach literature temporarily in place of his sick teacher. In the first class, he gave students two discussion topics: "Free exposition" and "Alessandro Menzoni and Literature". Unlike other students, the girl Vanina Abadi Vanina Abati prefers the second topic, which arouses Daniele's curiosity. So Daniele became interested in her and gave her Stendhal's book in an attempt to get into her life. And Vanina's evasive and elusive attitude made Daniele even more fascinated by her. During this period, Daniele spent countless days and nights of drug, alcohol and gambling. Although Daniele later learned that Vanina was Gerardo's lover in a short film on a Venice trip shown by his colleague Gerardo Favani Gerardo Favani, the more he was attracted by Vanina's mysterious beauty.