
Theo,anattractiveGermancallboy,marketshimselftoothermeninthepersonaladsofBerlinpapersandleadsanotherwisequietlifeacrossthehallfromMarie.MarieandPaulshareanapartmentthatMariepaysforbyworkingatarecordstore.Awould-bewriter,Paulspendshisdayssleepingorstaringattheblanksheetofpaperinhistypewriter.AfterPaulleavesMarieforwhathecallsher"grotesquemediocrity,"theprotractedsilencefromacrossthehallwayconcernsTheo.Finally,onreturninghomeoneday,heobservesthatMarie'sdoorishalfopenandventuresintoherapartmenttoseeifsheisokay.MarieisdevastatedbyPaul'sdepartureandTheotakesituponhimselftocoaxherbacktolife.Strangelyenough,hefindsthatshealsoawakensinhimadesireforlifethathehadlostorgivenawaytothecountlessmenwithwhomheshareshisbody.Whenthetwobecomeintimate,Theofeels--perhapsforthefirsttimeinaverylongtime--thatheisloved.Paul'suntimelyreturnsignalstheendofTheo'srelationshipwithMarieandhislifebecomesonceagainacontrastoffurtiverendezvousandbleakisolation.

