A US politician (Sam Waterston) visits his poet friend (John Heard) in Mont. St. Michael, France. While walking through the medieval island discussing their philosophies of life they happen upon Sonja (Liv Ullman), a scientist in recluse, who joins in their conversation. The two men listen to the ideas of this brilliant woman and discuss how her ideas can work in their own politician and poet lives.突然一个声音飘飘忽忽的传了出来，忽而在左，忽而在右；阴沉森寒恻恻的道：“嘿嘿，不错，算你们还有几分见识，不错，我就是楚阎王！”