A young woman gets tired of society's patriarchal order and women's sexual bondage.
During his military service a man meets a woman who works in the kitchen at the camp and they start a relationship. When the man is a out on combat exercises, he becomes a witness to his Sergeant being paralyzed by a snake.
A 19-year-old boy, after his mother's death, starts a relationship with his father's mistress, although he is engaged. The relationship continues after the woman has become his stepmother.
In March 1792 the Swedish King Gustav III is murdered at a masked ball. Five young people are involved in the murder story, including Tintomara, a 17 year old inter-sex who dominates over the others.
A dead and unknown woman, is found in a canal. Police inspector Martin Beck becomes involved in the case. After several months the woman is identified. The police reconstruct the woman's last trip on the canal boat "Wilhelm Tham".