李铁改编德莱瑟小说《嘉莉妹妹》，成功将荡气回肠的恋爱与封建悲剧熔为一炉。世家子吴楚帆为偿父债与富家女黄曼梨结婚，郁郁不得志，与爱人红线女私奔到澳门，以为可以重新开始，却被外父赶绝无以为生，自此日夕消沉，一对情人亦无奈失败。昔日仪表堂堂，今日颓唐无依，吴楚帆演得凄凉酸楚。人情之炎凉，命运之折磨，爱情的延绵思念，成就中联一部极出色的杰作，半开放的结局，更是经典。

Chan Sai-wah abides by his late father's word and marries the wealthy Yam Suk-kuen. They have a son, Kwok-leung. Though Wah is manager of the hotel owned by his father-in-law, Kuen is not a good wife. For all the years of their marriage, Wah has never been happy. Attracted to the humble and honest Carrie Mui, Wah decides to leave his domineering wife Kuen, but is stopped by his father-in-law. The lovers set off to Macau for a new start.

Their life has become increasingly miserable under the pressure from Yam's family. When Wah leaves to seek help from his son in Hong Kong, Carrie decides she should leave so that Wah can go without feeling any guilt or burden. On the other hand, Wah is too ashamed to face his son, and returns to Macau. He lives his life in misery. Years pass, the lovers meet again. Wah is reduced to begging in the streets while Carrie becomes an opera diva.