After World War II, an American couple travel to Europe to experience new cultures. Upon their arrival in Holland, the couple is surprised by the Indonesian population in the country and their treatment. The American couple meet Dr. Z, a Holocaust survivor, who works as a medical doctor. His wife, Madame Z, is a French woman desperate to stand out amongst other Dutch housewives. She wears berets, paints her nails, and reminds others of her French origins at every opportunity. Dr. Z, a wealthy and charming man, is known for his multiple romantic affairs. When the American couple meet Dr. Z, he is having affairs with both a nurse from his office and an artist named Simone. Simone, a fiercely independent painter, begrudgingly fell in love with Dr. Z. Dr. Z, however, still loved his wife. Simone fell into a deep depression and eventually the two parted ways. The nurse, heartbroken over Dr. Z's love for his other mistress and wife, wept daily. A few years later the nurse moved away to care for her elderly mother and Simone died. Left behind, though, were dozens of portraits of Dr. Z. Many years after the American couple had first visited Holland, Dr. Z and Madame Z ended up in New York for a conference. Now elderly, the pair met up with the American couple for drinks at an Irish Saloon. There, a drunken Madame Z aired her many grievances both with Dr. Z and Holland in general, especially Indonesian-Dutch people. Dr. Z ushers the drunk Madame Z into their hotel and Dr. Z admits that, even all these year later, his wife resents his affair with Simone. As the couples part ways, the Americans are struck by Madame Z's resemblance to paintings of the Dutch Bourgeoisie from the seventeenth century.