Merrill, an American woman who is a fashion-editor's assistant, arrives in Brenau (a small Austrian city). She is greeted by her lover's sister, a woman named Fanni. Fanni is a quieter individual who typically follows the outgoing Merrill along. A hotel porter comes to take Merrill's bags and she speaks little German.

As they walk around, Merrill feeds sugar cubes to the horses. When Merrill and Fanni return to their inn, Merrill asks about her lover--Toni. Toni doesn't do much as he mainly makes wooden items and plays his harmonica.

Merrill spends some time working on her fashion job. In January, Merrill has fashion openings in Paris but can't go because Toni gets put into prison--an occurrence that happens often according to Fanni. She learns that Toni is a political prisoner because he lights swastika fires in the evenings, which is considered treason.

In the night, Merrill goes to visit Toni and they share a moment talking to each other. She begs him to go to France with her, but he claims that he is too poor and needs to stay in Austria. She kisses him and he promises to never wash the lipstick stains from his face.

Later, in the springtime, Germany invades Austria. When Merrill comes to visit again, their usual habits are slightly different. The porter is a Nazi and Toni has new positions in the German rankings.

Merrill and Fanni visit a swimming area where she reunites with her lover. Toni realizes that he has become a Nazi, something he has always wanted, and she never sees him again.