Budapest from the thirties. The restaurant owner Laszlo hires the pianist András to play in his restaurant. Both men fall in love with the waitress Ilona who arouses. His song of Gloomy Sunday is, at first, loved and dreaded, for the melancholic melody strikes off a chain of suicides. The balance of the à trois is delivered off kilter when the German Hans moves and falls deeply in love with Ilona as well.