Vittorio, an American novelist teaching in Rome, meets the beautiful but damaged Bianca and they rapidly fall into an urgent, tempestuous affair. He's hesitant over their relationship since she seems to thrive on conflict and is constantly baiting him into physical altercation. Bianca gives Vittorio an exquisite leather belt as a gift; he knows immediately that she wants him to whip her with it. Driven by his craving for her, Vittorio complies to Bianca's desire. Their relationship escalates into a dark realm of S&M which becomes more and more self-destructive.

Vittorio conosce Bianca. I due non si sopportano, continuano a litigare e a offendersi: per questo vanno a vivere assieme. Il ménage è un disastro, finché i due scoprono che picchiandosi i rapporti migliorano. S'infilano così in un tunnel sado-maso che si conclude con un aborto per lei e un processo per maltrattamenti per lui.

Ein Italo-Amerikaner und einer Römerin gestalten ihr Liebesleben mit Akten exzessiver Gewalt. Schicksalsergeben treiben sie ihre selbstzerstörerischen Spiele, beschließen statt der Trennung gar die Heirat. Als es durch die Prügel bei der Frau zu einer Fehlgeburt kommt, greift der Staat ein.