Marguerite, known as Baronne Dumont (potentially a nod to the illustrious Margaret Dumont from the Marx Brothers films), entered her marriage with Georges through a blend of love and convenience; he was drawn to her wealth while she was enchanted by his title. However, her heartfelt ambition revolves around gaining his approval through her misguided musical aspirations. Throughout their journey, Georges consistently refers to her as "vous," highlighting a distance in their relationship, all while engaging in an affair with a mutual acquaintance. He cleverly manipulates his temperamental motor-car’s “breakdowns” as excuses to avoid her performances, leaving Marguerite in the dark.
Her vibrant musical community is acutely aware of her lack of talent, yet they flock to her for her generous hospitality. Avant-garde poets and performance artists opportunistically integrate her peculiar musical attempts into their own works. Most people around her, however, are hesitant to shatter her hopes, especially given her altruistic efforts to support war orphans in the post-World War I era of 1920. Marguerite’s dedicated butler, Madelbos, a passionate amateur photographer, aims to gain fame by capturing her in her operatic costumes, all in the hopes that one day her public performance will catapult her to fame—albeit for the wrong reasons. In a desperate bid to secure a voice coach, he resorts to blackmailing washed-up tenor Pezzini, which only complicates matters for Georges, who had hoped for a more honest assessment.
Under Pezzini's reluctant guidance, Marguerite undergoes a series of unconventional exercises as he invites his entourage to stay with her. A charity concert featuring operatic solos is on the horizon. Just before the event, Marguerite uncovers Georges' betrayal, leaving her heartbroken yet poised. He vows the affair has concluded and promises to attend the concert, though he is apprehensive about the impending ridicule. As Marguerite begins her performance, the audience's initial tension transforms into uproarious laughter, but amid it all, she catches sight of Georges and, for a fleeting moment, sings with unwavering truth—only to falter and cough up blood.
A voice specialist reassures her that rest is all she needs, but Marguerite is increasingly detached from reality, believing her dreams of an illustrious singing career are within reach. The doctor records her spoken memories of concert engagements on a phonograph, while Georges, hoping to unveil the truth, instructs the doctor to capture her singing as well. Regret washes over him, and he rushes to the hospital, but his car genuinely breaks down, delaying him. Ultimately, he arrives just as Marguerite experiences her tragic final moments, surrounded by the love that eluded her for so long, as Madelbos captures her passing—a poignant scene cradled in Georges’ embrace.
