Beth, a popular writer, and her husband Don, a well-liked teacher, share the kind of relationship that truly, seriously, for the love of God cannot be real: that is, they're actually in love. Even after decades of marriage, parenting, and successful careers, their physical spark has somehow not diminished; in fact, they seem to relish the opportunity to share a single ice cream cone and drive others including their son, Charlie mad. Should it come...

A legendary writer is driven to debt and drunken folly when the world cruelly shows its indifference to his poetry. His beloved wife's agonizing death by consumption and her deranged cat trigger the scribe's most ghastly acts of madness.

Alexandre decides to set off for Italy with the idea of completing his draft of a book on Borromini, and his wife Alienor comes along. Once there, they meet Goffredo, who is set to embark in architectural studies, and Lavinia, who is suffering from a nervous disorder. Alienor decides to stay to help Lavinia, and Alexandre continues on his travels with Goffredo. This separation for husband and wife will be the start of an inner journey for them...