The Swedish doctor of literature Vilhelm Canitz arrives in Lugano in Switzerland, close to Italy, for a few weeks stay at a medical clinic. Canitz considers himself to be quite healthy and the stay as an extended vacation. He meets a number of patients at the clinic suffering from terminal illnesses, including Vellamo Toivonen (Lindfors). The patients deal with the fact that they will not leave the clinic alive in different ways; with self-destruction, denial or imprudence.