 The stage-setting represents a bedroom. An Italian ballet master, Signor Saltarello, undresses while his maid prepares the bed and wishes him a good night. As he is absorbed in the study of a new step for a ballet which he is about to compose, he makes several trials of steps and goes to bed dissatisfied at not having found the one desired. He falls asleep while beating time and dreams. Two dancers appear in a vision and dance at first upon his bed, then upon the floor. These two dancers are merged into one, who executes a very remarkable step in an eccentric dance. When she has finished her turn she falls into the arms of the ballet master, who in his dream prepares to kiss her, but just as Saltarello presses his lips to hers she vanishes and the mother of the dancer appears in the place of the daughter. In his rage the ballet master gives the old woman a sound thrashing upon his bed. He rolls to the floor while administering terrific blows and he awakes with a leap to find that he is drubbing his pillow and bolster. At the noise from the great commotion the maid returns to ask if her master has not become insane. The ballet master, recognizing that it was all a dream, nearly bursts with laughter.