Art professor Nino (Frank Finlay) feels he can no longer satisfy his younger, passionate wife Teresa (Stefania Sandrelli) the way she desires. He articulates his innermost thoughts and sexual fantasies in a diary, including the secret wish to see his daughter's fiancé's Laszlo (Franco Branciaroli) make love to Teresa. Nino leaves the key to the drawer, containing the diary, out for his wife to find.