 In the original scenario, set in 18th-century Thessaly, the hero Pépio (danced then by a woman) is discontented with life at home and with the company of his fiancée Gourouli.Their relationship is symbolised by their "pas de deux" at the start in imitation of two pigeons they have been observing, quarrelling with small irritated movements of the head and then coming together to make up.When a group of gypsies visit their village, Pépio is seduced by the energetic czardas that they dance and flirts with the dusky Djali, eventually leaving his love behind to join in their wanderings.