Episode list

Bremen, 1893. Young and beautiful Marga Lürmann, daughter of a rich businessman, is surrounded by admirers, but doesn't love any of them. She enjoys flirting but rejects every proposal coming her way. On a farewell party for one of her young men, she meets the older Rudi Retberg. Marga is interested in the intelligent and sophisticated man despite his arrogance, but he keeps his distance. When her parents take her on a vacation, Marga is courted by shy Egon, a veritable Earl. He is a very desirable suitor in her parents' eyes, but Marga is already bored with him by the time the Lürmanns leave again for home.

Marga upsets her parents with another dalliance, and they take her away to Italy. Rudi Retberg promises to meet them there to show Marga around. However, a touch of consumption forces him to spend the summer in the mountains, disappointing Marga yet again. A beautiful girl on her own, Marga is attracting unwanted attention from local men, so her parents take her home. They decide that she is to spend the summer with her uncle on his country estate, Lesmona.

In Lesmona, Marga meets Percy and Heini, both distant cousins, who are staying for the summer as well. Marga falls head over heels for Percy, and even though she is shocked at first when he kisses her, she eventually gives in to him. Without a care in the world they spend the summer together, but reality is catching up fast.

At the end of summer, Percy has to return to his home in London to secure his inheritance and his place in the family business. He tells Marga that he needs time before he can afford to marry her and asks her to wait for five years. Marga doubts that either of them can wait that long, but promises him anyway. Marga returns home with a big secret she can't share with her family.

Marga's brother Carly returns home after several years abroad, and she witnesses the estrangement between him and his fiancée after all those years apart. Marga doubts even more that she will be able to wait for Percy for five years. Without any means of communication, her doubts and her sadness increase as the weeks go by. However, the more serious and mature Marga catches the eye of Rudi Retberg again, who proposes marriage. Lonely and confused, she accepts. Unexpectedly, Percy returns on a business trip to Bremen, much to Marga's surprise. She admits that she is still in love with him, much more than with her fiancé. But there is no way out of the engagement for her, so she has to say goodbye to Percy for good.

Marga grows increasingly despondent, and her father, worried for her health, sends her to London as a distraction. She stays with her aunt and uncle where she meets Percy again, who is a frequent guest at their house. Marga and Percy resume their love affair. Percy suggests that they can secretly live together until Percy comes into his money and can officially marry her. Marga declines, but after returning home, she is determined to break off her engagement to Retberg. Her father is furious and tries to explain to her that this would mean scandal, for her and the family. Afraid to follow through with her decision, she returns to Lesmona but finds that summer is over for good, and that her future is inextricably tied to Retberg.