Olof (Lassgärd) lives alone on his family's farm after the death of his mother. Unable to read and
write, he is dependent on his younger friend, Erik ( Widerberg), who helps him in the afternoons. Out
of the blue, Olof advertises in the local paper for a young lady housekeeper, and Ellen (Bergström),
a middle-class city woman, arrives to take over the house and, as the summer goes on, Olof's heart
and Erik's desire as well.