In late 18th-century Martinique, a plantation owner, his irresponsible young aristocratic wife and his beautiful black mistress are drawn into a spiral of violence that reflects all the horror and inhumanity of the perverse relations between masters and slaves.

Nathalie and Louise are friends from childhood. While studying drama at University Louise becomes hopelessly obsessed with her friend. Jealous of the male friends she has she breaks up the friendship, followed by a suicide attempt. Later, Louise marries, but finds time to see the, by now quite accomplished actress, Nathalie. They fight through the years, La Repetition following them as their friendship comes together and breaks up frequently, while never actually reaching anything that can be called a climax.

A man writes a play, hoping that it will help him understand the dramatic events his son lived in Greece.