The story is set in the valley of Moruz, which contains the town of Moruz and St. Claret, about 25 kilometres apart. Paul,34, is the director of a factory in St. Claret. His father is a small farmer from the village of Eligoz (popularity called the middle of the world). Paul marries an upper middle class girl and they have a son. Some time later he meets Adriana, a waitress at the station cafeteria at Moruz. When Paul falls in love with her, she accepts the relationship without sharing his passion. She is independent, self-sufficient and doesn't find it necessary to plan for the future. Paul, though, finds it difficult to organize his affair while campaigning for a commune political seat. His passion for Adriana underscores conflicts within his personality that become increasingly difficult for him to manage.