Prince Amerigo of impoverished Italian nobility enters into a marriage of convenience with Maggie, the daughter of the wealthy Adam Verver. With his old love, the beautiful but penniless Charlotte, Amerigo goes in search of a suitable wedding gift for his newlyweds. In their search, they come across a beautiful golden bowl, but Amerigo eventually decides to buy something else. By a strange coincidence, Adam Verver marries Charlotte, creating a curious quadrilateral relationship in their shared household.