The Swedish officer Mikael Bourg has served with the French army in Africa. When he returns to Sweden after many years abroad to recover from malaria, he meets his son, a student who prefers partying with his frat friends instead of his bank job; a disappointment in his father's eyes. He also meets a young librarian, Ebba Garland, which makes him feel young again and distracts him from the sickness.

Thomas Hell is an officer in the Salvation Army. He has religious doubts and questions the meaning of his work. He meets Lili, an ex-prostitute struggling to start a new life and he falls in love with her. However, she has a pimp, the boxer Herman, who won't let her leave.