Vihtori ja Klaara

Vihtori Vuorenkaiku, a newly rich former working-class man, is enjoying his wealth. Klaara dreams of a life befitting their new status, including visits to the opera. Vihtori remains uninterested in such refinements, creating early tension between them.

The following day Vihtori skips the opera and phones Ritva Vuorenrinne, signaling a lighthearted but serious lingering affair. The call reveals an emotional attachment that goes beyond their marriage. Ritva remains a distant but significant presence.

In a bold move, Klaara phones Vihtori and announces she wants to open a cosmetics shop, signaling her ambition to convert their status into a business venture. Vihtori feels wary about new ventures while Klaara embraces the idea as a step into independence. The plan sows a seed of distrust about money and control.

Vappu visits Vihtori's office and proclaims she will marry Petteri, presenting him as a potential son-in-law. Vihtori is skeptical about Petteri and questions his suitability. Klaara, hearing of the news, warms to the idea when she learns Petteri has a prestigious surname.

Vihtori doubts Petteri, but Klaara is intrigued by the von prefix in his surname, hoping it signals better prospects for the family. The exchange widens the gap between Vihtori's pragmatic view and Klaara's social ambitions. Their disagreement foreshadows later conflicts.

At night Vihtori has a vivid dream in which Klaara chases him through the streets of Helsinki with a rolling pin. The dream exaggerates their marital tension and fear of losing control. The rolling pin becomes a humorous but sharp symbol of domestic strain.

The next day Vihtori buys an expensive jewellery piece as a nameday gift for Ritva but forgets to pay for it in his hurry. The jewellery ends up in Klaara's hands, who is amused because Ritva shares the same middle name Ritva. The mishap intensifies the tangled web between spouses and lovers.

Vappu and Petteri end up in trouble for speeding on a public road, and Vihtori is hauled to the police station over the unpaid jewellery. The incident heightens the sense of public exposure for the family. Vihtori explains the situation to the jewellery shop manager to try to resolve it.

Vihtori clears the matter with the jewellery shop manager, resolving the unpaid gift misunderstanding. This resolves one knot in the day’s chaos but leaves others unresolved. Klaara learns more about the Ritva connection and grows anxious.

Klaara learns about Vihtori's relationship with Ritva and storms Ritva's apartment, where Petteri and Vihtori hide under a bed. Petteri steps out, prompting Klaara to fear a romance between Ritva and Petteri. Ritva intervenes to calm the situation.

Ritva convinces Klaara and Vappu that Petteri is innocent and sells her cosmetics store to Klaara as she marries her fiancé Klasu and moves away from Finland. The sale shifts business control within the family. Vihtori had previously bought the cosmetics shop for Ritva and now must buy it back for Klaara.

Vihtori, who had initially bought the cosmetics shop for Ritva, ends up buying it again for Klaara after Ritva's departure. Petteri and Ritva decide to teach Vappu a lesson by making Petteri appear indifferent, then quickly reconcile. The couple emerges happier and the family dynamics settle into a new balance.

Klaara accidentally drops a large pot on Vihtori's head, sending him to the hospital. He is slow to return home, while Ritva sends a letter and a wedding photograph. Klaara reads the letter and discovers Ritva Vuorenrinne is Vihtori's daughter, a revelation that shakes her understanding of their past.

Moved by the revelation, Klaara ponders why Vihtori never told her about Ritva earlier. The newfound knowledge reshapes their relationship and invites a reconsideration of their marriage. The family begins to mend as trust slowly returns.