During the post-war period, Adriano marries the virtuous Marcella. Soon after the marriage, an old acquaintance of Adriano's explains to Marcella the true nature of her husband's disreputable past. She leaves him and he returns to an ex-lover, Mimosa. Still in love, Marcella confronts Mimosa who tries to explain that the causes of Adriano's behavior are derived from his difficult life.