The opera is set on a trading barge, moored on the Seine in Paris.

The curtain rises on stevadores unloading the last sacks from the hold. Michele the bargee, stands smoking his pipe and staring at the sunset. His wife, Giorgetta is uncertain as to what is preoccupying him. The work finishes and she offers the workmen a drink. Old Talpa and Tinca relax on the deck. Luigi. a young workman, notices an organ grinder at the side of the wharf and asks him to play. As he dances with Giorgetta it becomes obvious there is more than just an attraction between them.

Girls on their way home from work buy a song about the lovelorn Mini from a song vendor. Fruola, Talpa's wife and a rag picker, arrives to collect her husband and tells Giorgetta of her dream of a little cottage in the country, where she can see out her days with Talpa and their cat Ali Baba. This provokes memories in Giorgetta of happy days in Belville. Luigi is also from Belville and they sing of happier times.

Luigi is without work after this job and asks Michele if he can go onto Rouen. Initially Michele agrees. Luigi and Giorgetta arrange a midnight meeting. The signal for him to come on board will be the lighting of a match.

The river starts to settle for the night. Michele is aware that something is very wrong and asks Gioreetta what has gone wrong with their marriage since the death of their baby son. Is he too old for her? What is she missing? What does she want?

His words disturb her and she is reminded of Frugola's stories of how you can be happy without having to live in a palace. But she is disturbed by the intensity of Michele's protestations. She says she is going to bed. Michele is still convinced she has arranged to meet a man.

The darkness settles right in as midnight approaches. Luigi appears on the wharf.. Michele sits wrapped in his tabarro (cloak) in the stern of the barge. He lights his pipe. Thinking it is Giorgetta's signal, Luigi comes on board. He is met and murdered by Michele. Giorgetta comes out of the cabin. She has realised that her life with Michele is good and safe. She asks him to hold her as he used to, wrapped in the cloak. Michele stands up and opens his tabarro to her and Luigi's body falls to the deck.

- Edgar Blair

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