Werther

July. The young poet Werther visits the house of the recently widowed Bailiff where his young children are practicing a Christmas carol. Werther is to escort Charlotte, the Bailiff's eldest daughter, to a ball that evening. He is strongly attracted by the beauty and tenderness of Charlotte as she looks after her siblings. On their return from the ball, Werther declares his love to her, but he finds out that Charlotte is already engaged to Albert, who she promised her dying mother to marry. Werther is devastated.

September. The townspeople gather for the Pastor's 50th wedding anniversary. From a distance, Werther observes Charlotte and Albert - who have been married for three months - enter the church. Meanwhile, Charlotte's sister Sophie attempts to grab his attention. Werther has maintained friendship with the couple, but when he sees Charlotte he can no longer restrain himself and tells her of his love. Distraught, Charlotte tells him to leave the town and not return until Christmas. Werther departs hastily.

On Christmas Eve. Charlotte is obsessively re-reading Werther's letter and her heart is torn. Werther appears, and after he reads to her some poetry of Ossian ("Porquoi me reveiller"), he tells her he is still in love with her. They embrace for a moment but Charlotte flings herself away and flees. Albert returns to find his wife agitated, and when a servant brings a note from Werther asking to borrow his pistols for his journey, he sends his servant with it. Charlotte has a terrible premonition and rushes to Werther, but it is too late. He has shot himself and is mortally wounded. Werther says he is happy to die thinking of her. She finally admits that she had always loved him and kisses him. He dies in her arms as the children's Christmas carol is heard outside.