In a tale that intertwines life, art, and the supernatural, Orpheus and his wife Eurydice find themselves ensnared in a complex web of loyalty, jealousy, and intrigue. From a villa in Thrace to the realms of the afterlife, their story unfolds in layers of mythic proportions and human frailties. At the heart of this narrative, Orpheus's artistic endeavors and personal relationships lead to dramatic and otherworldly consequences.

The Enigmatic Horse

Within their Thracian villa, Orpheus and Eurydice sit together, yet worlds apart, as Orpheus focuses intently on the rhythmic tapping of a white horse. He believes that the horse's tapping conveys messages from the beyond, eagerly interpreting the sounds as divine guidance. The horse eventually spells out "hello" in a cryptic message, reminiscent of past messages Orpheus has used in a poetry competition. This enigmatic interaction becomes a point of contention between the couple, as Eurydice’s skepticism clashes with Orpheus’s conviction. The tension between them escalates when Eurydice warns of the Bacchantes' jealousy—a cult she once belonged to—prompting Orpheus to accuse her of betrayal. In a peculiar demand, Orpheus insists Eurydice break a window daily to summon the glazier, Heurtebise, ostensibly to mask his own jealousy.

A Dangerous Exchange

Heurtebise's arrival prompts Orpheus to leave for his poetry competition preparations. Meanwhile, Eurydice engages in a perilous exchange with Algaonice, the Bacchante leader. She trades an incriminating letter for poison-laced sugar, enlisting Heurtebise to administer the poison to the horse. However, Orpheus’s unexpected return interrupts this plan, leading to an astonishing moment when Heurtebise, standing on a chair, inexplicably remains suspended in the air as Orpheus retrieves his birth certificate. Oblivious to Heurtebise's supernatural predicament, Orpheus departs. Eurydice, left with the poisoned envelope, inadvertently seals her own fate as she licks the adhesive, discovering too late that she is dying, prompting Heurtebise to pursue Orpheus.

The Arrival of Death

Death, clad in evening attire and accompanied by attendants dressed as surgeons, arrives through a mirror. She exchanges her garb for a white tunic and orchestrates a ritualistic process to claim Eurydice's soul. The scene unfolds with a blend of theatricality and surrealism, involving precise measurements and mechanical devices. A dove, representing Eurydice’s soul, emerges and takes flight once released. Death and her assistants exit, leaving behind only forgotten gloves.

The Quest Beyond Mirrors

Returning to find Eurydice lifeless, Orpheus, under Heurtebise’s guidance, dons Death’s gloves to enter the mirror and seek her again. As he vanishes into the reflective portal, the postman brings a letter, hinting at the cyclic nature of events. Orpheus re-emerges with Eurydice, bound by a pact with Death allowing their reunion—provided Orpheus never looks at her. Their initial joy quickly turns to discord, and during a moment of carelessness in anger, Orpheus inadvertently glances at Eurydice, causing her to vanish.

The Wrath of the Bacchantes

Orpheus rationalizes his fateful glance, blaming Eurydice for stifling his creative spirit. He discovers the delivered letter, which reveals Algaonice's denunciation of his competition entry as a ruse. The message, "O Hell!" condemns him, and the Bacchantes, driven by vengeance, approach to exact retribution. Acknowledging too late the horse's deceit, Orpheus steps onto the balcony to confront his destiny. Amid the ensuing chaos, his severed head flies back through the window, calling out for Eurydice, who returns from the mirror to join him in death.

Investigations and Revelations

A knock signals the arrival of the Commissioner of Police, accompanied by a scrivener. They announce a change in public sentiment, now favoring Orpheus, as an eclipse is interpreted as divine displeasure over his unjust treatment. Tasked with investigating his murder and retrieving a...