In this story, which focuses on the events of a single evening, Kaarlo Kaarila, a dedicated chief physician, discovers that his wife Irja is having an affair with Dr. Alec von Wentell. The hospital's head nurse, Sister Magda, longs for Kaarila but suppresses her feelings. Irja's car accident sets off a series of dramatic events that force everyone to reevaluate their values in life.