VANESSA

Vanessa Anden is a misfit student at a Bavarian convent. After the death of her uncle Richard, she travels to Hong Kong to assume ownership of her uncle's estate. When she arrives, Prinz Bandor, a taxi driver later revealed to be a magician, delivers her to Richard's palatial home. There, she meets Jackie, the niece of Richard's attorney and closest friend, Anthony Grüder. Jackie's sister Cle is married to the wealthy Major Kenneth Cooper. Cle engages in a series of open extramarital affairs in an attempt to get Kenneth to divorce her.

Vanessa learns she has inherited a chain of bordellos and a large citrus plantation, but the plantation administrator, Adrian, claims to be Richard's illegitimate son and has contested the will. Adrian invites Vanessa to the plantation to persuade her to give it to him. He then attempts to rape Vanessa, but Kenneth intervenes. Adrian's servant Tai-Neh, who is in love with Adrian, becomes furiously jealous of Adrian's interest in Vanessa. Tai-Neh uses sympathetic magic to cause Vanessa agony and leave her sick in bed. Jackie, suspecting magic, enlists Prinz Bandor's aid. Bandor perceives Tai-Neh's magic is the source of Vanessa's pain and counters it.

The court rejects Adrian's challenge and awards the entire estate to Vanessa. Adrian tries to convince Vanessa he loves her, but Vanessa fires him. Vanessa decides to keep the plantation but has Anthony sell all the brothels, thus becoming very wealthy. Kenneth invites Vanessa to her home, drugs her and sexually assaults her. Jackie, Adrian and Cle arrive as he does so, and Adrian rescues Vanessa. Kenneth asks Cle to come back to him, but she refuses. Vanessa hires Adrian to run the plantation again and returns to Europe, leaving open the possibility of a future relationship.

Vanessa retains her inheritance after a legal challenge, sells the bordellos, and returns to Europe, having resolved the conflicts around her estate.

The ending sees Vanessa overcoming both legal and personal threats to her fortune and autonomy. By decisively selling the bordellos and keeping the plantation, she reclaims control over her life, distancing herself from the intrigues and betrayals she encountered. Her departure for Europe suggests a return to self-determination, while the open-ended nature of her relationship with Adrian leaves room for the possibility of future change.