The General's daughter, Helene, grows up in a safe world. She doesn't want to get married or have kids. She meets a man who talks about platonic love which seems to fit her nice. They get married but when he wants to get more intimate with her she rejects him. August Strindberg's short story "Mot betalning" from the collection "Giftas 2".

Grandmother sits with her grandchildren. She talks about the position of the Swedish woman through the centuries, about her struggle for freedom and justice. Grandma's words take shape in moving images.

Karin Larsson and Douglas Hallencreutz has a somewhat peculiar relationship. They meet every Wednesday at Douglas. Karin is Douglas "Wednesday's friend." Otherwise, they live completely separate lives. This Wednesday they wake up together. Karin showers and leave Douglas fancy apartment at Strandvägen, Stockholm. She lives with her father, former captain Larsson. When Karin come home, Baltzar is at the door. Baltzar is a typical "guy" full of ideas, not always successful. It also turns out that Baltzar had a relationship with one of Karin's sisters.

The old Victor Branzell has a grandson, Alf, who is in love with a clerk in a glove shop, Lilian Lind. But Lilian with her simple background doesn't get accepted in the circles where Alf belongs, and they have now reached the conclusion that they can't have a future together. Marriage is impossible. Victor summons Lilian and Alf and starts telling them his life story.

In the late 1800's, the old Karolina Koger dictates his will: all her money shall form a family fund.

The Beckius family is living near the border to Russia. The youngest son, Armas, is living a wild life that eventually leads to a break with the family after which he joins the Russian Revolution. When he returns to his home country a few years later the family on the enemy's side.

Gösta Berling is a young and attractive minister. Because of his alcoholism and his daring sermons, he is finally defrocked. He becomes a tutor of countess Marta's stepdaughter and they fall in love. But the countess has a plan of her own.