Mawarti, the mother, who dies from mysterious illness, leaves behind Munarto (her husband, a businessman obsessed with his job), Tomi (her son, a quiet boy), Rita (her daughter, a party girl), and Mr. Karto (a sickly but religious servant). On the first night after Mawarti's death, Tomi sees his dead mother but does not talk to her. The next day, he takes the advice of his friend and visits a fortune teller, who warns that his whole family is in great danger and may die, and advises him to fortify himself with black magic.