A Swedish noir movie with the character of a French noir ('Quai des brumes', 'Le jour se lève'). Two worlds meet for a brief experience of happiness ended by a violent tragedy. In one world the unhappy prostitute (Ulla) finds a drunken young man (Nisse) who had previously failed in many occupations. She takes him home. Her feelings are like those for a younger brother. Nisse moves into the small apartment next to hers. It was vacant because of a complex tragedy involving the piano teacher. Ulla becomes very distressed when Nisse joins a criminal gang. - In the other world a young girl Lena's father is the captain and her fiancé the first mate on the same boat. She feels almost imprisoned by the life she is expected to live. When her piano teacher failed to show up for several weeks she goes to his apartment. This is where Nisse lives now. It is not just that Nisse and Lena fall in love. She is revived by this relationship and fundamentally changes her view of life.