The action takes place in Einfried, a sanatorium. Director of the sanatorium is Dr. Leander. There are many different patients being treated there, heart patients, nervous patients, old and young. Fraulein from Osterloh does the housekeeping and there is another doctor called Dr. Muffler. There is also an author spending his time at Einfried.
New patient arrives to Einfried. It is Gabriele Kloterjahn and she arrives with her husband Herr Kloterjahn. Frau Kloterjahn is suffering from trachea and she is very fragile and sensitive. It was advised to her by her previous doctor to spend time at Einfried to heal. The previously mentioned author's name is Detlev Spinell and he immediately takes interest in Frau Kloterjahn.
Herr Kloterjahn leaves Einfriend because of his son and his business. Frau Kloterjahn and Herr Spinell spend a lot of time talking together. Herr Spinell is visibly in love with her. She finds herself thinking about him a lot and thinking how he made her reflect on herself and her life and choices she made.
There is a sleighing party and most of the patients leave Einfriend together with Dr. Leander. Herr Spinell and Frau Kloterjahn are left almost entirely alone. Herr Spinell convinces Frau Kloterjahn to play the piano; she used to play before she got sick. Frau Klotterjahn plays the piano exceedingly well and starts playing Tristan and Isolde by Richard Wagner. There is a sound of sleighs and Herr Spinell gets up to leave but finds himself kneeling before Frau Kloterjahn, they are both in a daze because of the passionate love story of Tristan and Isolde.
Frau Kloterjahn's state starts to deteriorate and Dr. Muffler advises that she should be reunited with her husband. Herr Kloterjahn soon arrives with his son Anton Kloterjahn Junior. Herr Spinell observes their arrival with feeling of disgust.
Herr Spinell suddenly begins to write a letter addressed to Herr Kloterjahn in which he expresses his hate towards him and his son and because he ruined Gabriele Eckhof or Frau Kloterjahn his wife.
In a short while Herr Klotterjahn pays a visit to Herr Spinell's room and asks him to explain the letter. Herr Kloterjahn starts to insult Herr Spinell. There is suddenly a knock on the door and a maid informs him that Frau Kloterjahn's health is deteriorating and she is coughing up a lot of blood. Visibly in distress and afraid for her life Herr Kloterjahn rushes to her room.
Herr Spinell goes out for a walk and suddenly sees an apparition above the sunset of Anton Kloterjahn Junior in a baby crib and Gabriele Eckhof above him moving the crib. The child starts to yell and cry hysterically as if to scare Herr Spinell away. Herr Spinal collects himself and starts calmly walking away all the while feeling as if he is running on the inside.
