青年柳夢梅偶遇少女杜麗娘, 互相傾慕, 更在夢中相遇. 惟彼此不知對方姓名和住處, 往後兩人掛念對方, 還決心以對方為終身對象. 梅老父希望他成家立室, 但梅不從, 更離家尋娘芳蹤. 娘遭父迫嫁有財有勢的表兄, 鬱鬱而終.

Lau Mung-mui chances on To Lai-leung and their encounter transcends to a rendezvous in their dreams. They admire each other, but they do not know each other's names and addresses. They keep on thinking of each other and decide to take each other as their future husband and wife. Mui's father wants his son to get married, but he pays no attention to his father's wishes. Mui leaves home to look for Leung. Leung's father forces his daughter to marry her rich and powerful cousin. Leung becomes despondent and dies, following an arranged marriage with her cousin. Mui sought everywhere for Leung for three years, but to no avail. He locates the home of Leung, but the household has moved out. The house is guarded by an old servant. Mui, chasing Leung's spirit, has a brief romance with her. Acknowledging that their union will be hindered by their incompatibility as a mortal and a spirit, Leung reincarnates as a mortal so that their love may be rekindled.