Professor Isak Borg, a grand old man of medicine, is about to receive an honorary degree from the University of Lund. On the surface he is courteous, charming and at peace with the world, though he lives a rather withdrawn life. One morning, however, he awakes from a nightmare in which he sees himself as a living corpse.

The dream remains with him as he journeys from Stockholm to Lund, and the events of the day force him to examine his life and contend with his memories.