After separating from his American wife, Julius Ferri and his daughter Emmy have returned to Urbino, where he works as a veterinary surgeon in a renowned animal clinic. One day Claudia, Julius' childhood sweetheart, arrives as a replacement for a member of the clinic staff who has taken pregnancy leave. Eleven years previously, Julius and Claudia had been planning to get married # but Julius went to America, fell in love with an American woman, and cut off all further contact with Claudia. Claudia has never forgiven him for this act, and now, when the two of them see each other again after such a long time, she is very cool and distanced towards him. The problems provided by the "patients" at the clinic keep bringing the two of them together professionally, however, and soon the ice starts to melt. Julius very soon realizes that he's fallen in love with Claudia again, but she is still distanced towards him. Nevertheless, she's still prepared to support Julius in his fight for custody ...