A struggling dreamer pursues wealth and fame by selling a beauty-tourism scheme to workers in his sister's community.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Slacker's Ambition
Jacques has long depended on his parents, but now needs to get by on his own. He dreams of wealth and fame and develops a plan involving tourism and inexpensive plastic surgery.
Key Events
Jacques Seeks Independence — After relying on his parents for too long, Jacques faces the need to support himself. Characters: JacquesLocation: Unspecified
Dreams of Wealth and Fame — The former gigolo and self-described slacker sets his sights on becoming rich and famous. Characters: JacquesLocation: Unspecified
A Beauty Tourism Plan — Jacques devises a business plan combining tourism with inexpensive plastic surgery. Characters: JacquesLocation: Unspecified
A New Base in France
Jacques moves in with his older sister Monique, who manages an Emmaus village in southwestern France. Her community becomes the setting for his recruitment effort.
Key Events
A Beauty Tourism Plan — Jacques devises a business plan combining tourism with inexpensive plastic surgery. Characters: JacquesLocation: Unspecified
Jacques Moves In — Jacques moves in with Monique, who manages the Emmaus village. Characters: Jacques, MoniqueLocation: Emmaus village, southwestern France
The Bulgarian Proposal
Jacques persuades a group of workers to support his plan. They pool their limited funds for a trip to a clinic in Bulgaria.
Key Events
Workers Hear His Pitch — Jacques uses his persuasive talk to convince workers in the village to join his scheme. Characters: Jacques, MoniqueLocation: Emmaus village, southwestern France
Workers Pool Their Funds — The recruited workers agree to pool their limited money for the proposed trip. Characters: Jacques, MoniqueLocation: Emmaus village, southwestern France
Hope Meets Doubt
The group sets out for Bulgaria, expecting the trip to help them achieve a brighter and more beautiful future. The synopsis signals uncertainty about those expectations but does not provide the outcome.
Key Events
Journey to Bulgaria — The group sets out for a Bulgarian clinic, hoping for a brighter and more beautiful future. Characters: Jacques, MoniqueLocation: On the way to Bulgaria
Promises Meet Uncertainty — The synopsis undercuts the group's hopes with the warning, 'If only…,' without specifying the outcome. Characters: Jacques, MoniqueLocation: Bulgaria
Story Breakdown
Seeking Independence — Jacques must stop relying on his parents and try to support himself.
Years Of Dependence — The synopsis says Jacques has lived off his parents for too long.
Starting On His Own — At forty, he faces the need to get by independently.
Ambition For Success — Jacques pursues an unusually grand vision despite his precarious circumstances.
Wealth And Fame — He knows he wants to become rich and famous.
Former Gigolo — The synopsis describes him as a one-time gigolo and a borderline bum.
Beauty Tourism Scheme — Jacques builds a business idea around travel and cheap plastic surgery.
Tourism Combined — His plan combines tourism with affordable cosmetic surgery.
Bulgarian Clinic — The proposed trip is to a clinic in Bulgaria.
Life With Monique — Jacques moves into the community overseen by his older sister.
Older Sister — Monique is identified as Jacques's older sister.
Emmaus Village — Monique manages an Emmaus village in southwestern France.
Recruiting The Workers — Jacques uses his persuasive manner to gather support for the scheme.
Smooth Talking — The synopsis says Jacques convinces a group of workers.
Community Investors — The workers are recruited from the village community.
Pooling Their Funds — The workers commit their limited resources to the planned trip.
Meagre Savings — The recruited workers pool their meagre funds.
Shared Venture — Their pooled money is intended to finance the clinic trip.
Hopes For Bulgaria — The group sets out expecting the venture to offer a better future, though the synopsis leaves its success uncertain.
Setting Out — The workers embark on the trip to Bulgaria.
Uncertain Promise — The synopsis ends this setup with 'If only…' and gives no further outcome.
He’s lived for too long off his parents. It’s time for 40-year-old slacker Jacques to get by on his own. One-time gigolo and a borderline bum, he knows what he wants – to become rich and famous. He even has a business plan: tourism combined with cheap plastic surgery. Jacques moves in with his older sister, Monique, who manages an Emmaus village in the south west of France. And before long, the smooth-talking chancer has convinced a group of workers to pool their meagre funds and set out on a trip to a clinic in Bulgaria, where all their dreams of a brighter and more beautiful future will all come true. If only…
