Adrien does not see eye to eye with his patrician father about much It is 1912 and the old man still believes in the old rules which straitjacket men of class He believes that the elite have the right to conquer where they can that they should refrain from publicizing their improprieties and he is rabidly promilitary Adrian kicked out of his military school for his own improprieties and hiding that from his father is naturally drawn to Vicky a beautiful divorced woman and friend of the family who is staying at their mansion The family tutor a man of ordinary background with some ideas which seem radical in this household is similarly smitten On the basis of their shared attraction the two men form a friendship Meanwhile the object of their affection finds it diverting to toy with them