A nervous couple relies on a demanding neighbor to transform their home and habits before an important dinner.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
An Invitation Under Pressure
A new overseas job creates pressure to impress a team leader. Colette worries that the couple cannot host the dinner successfully and seeks help.
Key Events
A New Job Abroad — The couple faces a new opportunity after three years of unemployment. Characters: ColetteLocation: Home
The Dinner Invitation — A dinner is planned to make a positive impression on the new team leader. Characters: ColetteLocation: Home
Culinary Anxiety — Colette becomes anxious about the couple's ability to prepare an appropriate meal. Characters: ColetteLocation: Home
Seeking Outside Help — Colette turns to the neighboring communication expert for assistance. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment building
Alexandre Accepts — Alexandre accepts the challenge, but only under demanding conditions. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment building
The Neighbor's Intervention
Alexandre accepts the challenge of preparing the couple for the dinner. He demands changes to their habits, apartment, menu, and cultural knowledge.
Key Events
New Rules For Hosting — Alexandre requires changes to the couple's habits and surroundings. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Home
Apartment Transformation — Alexandre orchestrates a complete transformation of the apartment. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Lifestyle Rehearsal — The couple is pushed to alter everyday habits before the dinner. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Menu Revision — Alexandre changes the menu as part of the preparation strategy. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Kitchen
Cultural Preparation — Alexandre helps the couple acquire the cultural knowledge he considers necessary. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
A Plan Unravels
The extensive preparation produces repeated dramas, mishaps, misunderstandings, and general bungling. The attempt to appear prepared instead generates escalating disorder.
Key Events
Cultural Preparation — Alexandre helps the couple acquire the cultural knowledge he considers necessary. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
First Mishap — The preparation encounters an early mishap despite Alexandre's planning. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Growing Misunderstandings — Misunderstandings complicate the attempt to create a polished hosting environment. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Domestic Bungling — General bungling causes the carefully designed preparations to become increasingly chaotic. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Nerves Fray — Repeated dramas and mishaps leave the participants with frazzled nerves. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Preparation Crisis — The transformed home and dinner plan remain threatened by continuing mistakes. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
At The Threshold
Colette and Alexandre struggle through the final preparations with frazzled nerves. They finally arrange the apartment and wait for the guest.
Key Events
Last Minute Recovery — Colette and Alexandre continue managing the preparations despite mounting disorder. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
The Home Is Ready — After extensive changes, the apartment is arranged for the expected dinner. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Waiting At The Door — The exhausted participants wait nervously for the dinner guest to arrive. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment entrance
The Guest Arrives
The waiting ends when the door opens. The dinner guest is welcomed, completing the preparation-driven comic ordeal.
Key Events
Waiting At The Door — The exhausted participants wait nervously for the dinner guest to arrive. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment entrance
The Door Opens — Colette and Alexandre open the door to welcome the dinner guest. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment entrance
Dinner Begins — The long preparation culminates in the guest's arrival and the beginning of dinner. Characters: Colette, AlexandreLocation: Apartment
Story Breakdown
Employment Opportunity — A new job creates the social pressure behind the dinner invitation.
Overseas Position — The plot begins with a job opportunity in Indonesia after prolonged unemployment.
Impression Matters — The dinner is intended to establish a positive relationship with the team leader.
Hosting Anxiety — Colette becomes deeply concerned that the couple cannot host the dinner properly.
Culinary Doubts — The couple's lack of culinary confidence threatens the dinner plan.
Outside Assistance — Colette seeks help from the neighboring communication expert.
Alexandre's Conditions — Alexandre accepts the challenge while requiring major changes from the couple.
Changed Habits — The couple must accept changes to their everyday habits.
Changed Surroundings — Their domestic surroundings must be altered for the occasion.
Domestic Transformation — The apartment, lifestyle, menu, and cultural preparation are reorganized.
Apartment Makeover — Alexandre orchestrates a complete transformation of the apartment.
Menu Revision — The dinner menu is revised as part of the hosting strategy.
Repeated Dramas — The process is disrupted by multiple dramatic complications.
General Bungling — Mistakes and misunderstandings undermine the planned transformation.
Frayed Nerves — The accumulated problems exhaust the people responsible for the dinner.
Mounting Pressure — The approaching dinner increases the emotional pressure on the preparation.
Final Disorder — The couple reaches the doorstep with frazzled nerves after the chaotic preparations.
The Doorway Arrival — The preparation culminates when the couple finally welcomes the expected dinner guest.
Last-Minute Readiness — The transformed apartment is prepared for the final arrival.
Welcome At Last — The door opens and the dinner guest is welcomed.
Fifty years old, three years past of unemployment, benefits decreasing very quickly... Gerard is at the end of the rope when a position is offered him in Indonesia. To win the favor of his new employer, Gerard invites him to dinner at home. Fatal Error ! Terrified at the idea of not being up to par, his wife Colette begs Alexandre, their neighbor to help. Communication guru, Alexander accepts the challenge and gives a makeover to the couple in twenty-four hours. Apartment, decoration, lifestyle, dinner menu, uniforms, culture... Everything !
