It is 1915 in Vienna and the Great War has caused many casualties. Elsa, a beautiful prostitute, wants to help the war effort, but is rejected as a nurse, but a government official thinks that she will make an excellent spy.

Lily Becker is born in Paradise, Iowa and raised there by her prudish mother and her spineless father. Mrs Becker pressures Lily into marrying local yokel Albert Penny, who is extremely dull……