In this somber drama, residents of a small island accuse a nobleman of killing a priest when the man of the cloth disappears. The two were seen arguing, and the nobleman is the main suspect. The priest is only away on a sabbatical trying to regain his faith, but the islanders continue to put pressure on the innocent noble.

Krister and his fiancé Brita return to Stockholm after a stay in Italy. Shortly upon their return Krister learns that all his assets left to him by his father has disappeared. Together with Brita he tries to obtain justice in a aristocratic and corrupt legal system.

The Soviet chess player Anatolij meets the American chess player Freddie in Italy where a grand chess championship is held. There, their pasts and love affairs starts to affect the competition, forcing them to face their inner feelings.