At the birth of his daughter Klara Gulla, the unhappy cat owner Jan i Skrolycka feels the power of love for the first time in his life. However, at the age of eighteen, Gulla leaves Jan and his wife Kattrina and moves to Stockholm, where she works as a prostitute. Yet Jan refuses to acknowledge reality and becomes consumed by the delusion that his beloved Gulla has achieved rank and wealth, while he himself has ascended to become the "Emperor of Portugal" with prophetic abilities. When Gulla returns home briefly after many years, she is horrified to turn away from her father, who has become a despised oddity due to his unconditional love for her.