2차 대전이 벌어지던 시기, 독일장교 베르너 폰 에브레낙은 나치에 점령당한 프랑스의 작은 마을에 주둔한다. 그가 머물던 집의 노인과 조카딸은 저항과 경멸의 의미로 그에게 어떠한 말도 건네지 않는다. 매일 저녁 베르너는 자신의 삶과 고향에 대한 이야기들로 그들과 대화를 하려 하지만 그들의 침묵은 쉽게 깨어지지 않는다.
Two photographers from Stockholm go to the west coast on behalf of their employer, who is a swimwear manufacturer. They will look for the season's most beautiful bathing girl, but it will be harder than they think to find the ideal model.
Sailor Johannes Blom returns to his home port, after seven years at sea, to find that Sally, the girl he has been thinking of while away, is completely despondent. Seven years earlier, obstreperous Alexander Blom, brings his mistress Sally to live with him, his wife Alice, son Johannes, and crew, aboard the salvage boat he captains. Amidst all the tensions on the small boat, Johannes and Sally fall in love with each other.
Inga, an unemployed actress meets a sweetheart Kim, from days long gone at a train station. Over coffee they reminisce about their romance and how Inga left Kim for a moderately successful acting career and the attractive theater director Leo Waller.