2007: When the elderly George Reeckmans is dying, his wife Helena asks him to reveal the big secret that he had with him his whole life. Only he knows how his best friend Alfred Lenaerts died during World War II. But George takes his secret to the grave... 1939: The young Alfred is madly in love with Helena, the daughter of the Hasselt gin distiller Henri De Keyser. But his close friend George Reeckmans has also feelings for the "Empress of taste'. The young Helena De Keyser is not immune to the charms of both friends, but eventually she chose Alfred. The two have very little time to enjoy their luck, as Alfred is called up for war.