Former Nazi Gen. Julian von Wille makes a pilgrimage to Italy in search of atonement for his theft of a valuable poem his soldiers took from the wounded body of a prominent Marchesa . He seeks to speak with her, to explain himself, and to ask her forgiveness, but because of a stroke she is unable to speak. She has her own regrets for leading orphans in her care into harm's way. In ways neither expects, they settle old scores.