The film is set in the mid-19th century. The main character of "Lady..." is Margaret Gautier - a luxurious Parisian courtesan, known for appearing at opera performances with a bouquet of white or red camellias. After the woman's death, an auction of her estate takes place. The writer Alexander Dumas buys the book, but less than a few days later a certain Mr. Armand Duval shows up at his house, for whom the literary man's acquisition is an extremely valuable heirloom. It turns out that Duval was ...