The newspaper owner, Dr. Ludving Schön, loves Lulu, a dancer and prostitute. Schigolch, her ex-boyfriend, visits her with Rodrigo Quast, the agent, and offers Lulu a role in a play. When Schön plans to marry Charlotte, Lulu encourages him. Schön follows Lulu to the bedroom after seeing her dancing with Schigolch and Rodrigo at the wedding. He becomes enraged and makes Lulu murder them.