Made during Bergman's tax-related expatriation in Germany, the movie proceeds the story of Katarina and Peter Egermann, the feuding, childless, expert pair that show up in one episode of "Scenes From A Marital relationship." After Peter perpetrates a horrible crime in its very first scene, the remainder of the film includes a non-linear assessment of his motivations, integrating an authorities emotional investigation, scenes from the Egermanns' wedded life, as well as dream series.