Based upon a novel written by Guy de Maupassant, the film tells the story of Jorge Dubois, an unemployed man based on Marsella, France. He encounters with an old friend, who works as a journalist for the most important paper in France. This friend invites Jorge to write articles for the paper, albeit the man doesn`t know how. "You always will find a fool dispose to write your articles", the friend says, and later Jorge meets a beautiful woman, Magdalena, during a party where all the high society of France is gathered together. There, Jorge will meet with a General and he claims to him having fight in Argelia with the army, which is a lie. Magdalena is an intelligent and very talented woman, and she will be the person who writes the articles for Jorge. This will be the beginning of a successful career in journalism for Jorge, but also a promiscuous life with some women.