The emotionally deadlocked Colin (Rupert Everett Rupert Everett) and Mary (Natasha Richardson Natasha Richardson) come to Venice on vacation to try to make a difference in their lazy and boring lives. One night, they meet the local Mr. Robert (Christopher Walken Christopher Walken), who reveals the scars of his childhood to the strange couple and promotes extreme male chauvinism. Colin and Mary felt some kind of indescribable threat, but the boredom of ordinary life and the pursuit of excitement made them involuntarily accept Robert's invitation to his house. Robert's wife Caroline (Helen Mirren Helen Mirren) tells Mary about her complex masochistic relationship with Robert, which makes Mary's psychology have some ambiguous changes, coupled with this uneasy stimulation, unexpectedly rekindled the long-extinguished fire of love between her and Colin. So, after meeting Mr. and Mrs. Robert again, Colin and Mary left uncontrollably, even though they knew they might become.