Having run away from a tragic love affair in the U.S., a woman moves to Paris, where she divides her time between work, as costume assistant to a famous opera singer, and the theater, as an amateur actress. Although initially determined to deny herself a new life and a new love, she is gradually overtaken by the sensual atmosphere of Richard Strauss' opera "Der Rosenkavalier". Torn between her admiration for the opera singer and her own acting, the girl seems always to want to be someone else, never herself.