A drifting musician becomes emotionally attached to a fiercely independent woman while friendship, desire, and escape collide in Paris.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Refuge From Despair
Léo ends his current relationship and imposes himself on his old friend Bony. The two men use nighttime drinking in Paris to escape Léo's depressed condition.
Key Events
Léo Ends His Relationship — On a depressed morning, Léo decides to leave his current girlfriend. Characters: LéoLocation: Léo's home
Léo Seeks Bony's Refuge — Léo imposes himself on Bony rather than formally asking for refuge. Characters: Léo, BonyLocation: Bony's apartment
Their Old Friendship Emerges — Bony is introduced as Léo's old friend from the barricades. Characters: Léo, BonyLocation: Bony's apartment
Nightlife Begins — Léo takes Bony on nighttime drinking outings to escape his condition. Characters: Léo, BonyLocation: Parisian bars
The Taxi Encounter
After Bony leaves him adrift, Léo returns by taxi and meets Cora, the female driver. Her unconventional exchange of love for the fare leaves him troubled and fascinated.
Key Events
Bony Leaves Léo Adrift — Bony leaves Léo to continue drifting through the night. Characters: Léo, BonyLocation: Parisian bars
The Taxi Ride — Léo returns by taxi and is driven by Cora. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Taxi
Cora Notices His Sadness — Cora notices the sad air of her charming passenger. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Taxi
Love Instead Of Fare — Cora sits beside Léo and prices the fare with a moment of love. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Taxi back seat
Léo Is Troubled — Cora's free and somewhat violent attitude troubles Léo. Characters: LéoLocation: Paris
A Dangerous Attraction
Léo searches for Cora at the bar and brings Bony with him. Cora's liberated behavior captivates both men, while Léo and Cora begin testing each other's independence.
Key Events
The Search For Cora — Léo returns the following evening to find Cora at her bar. Characters: Léo, BonyLocation: Parisian bar
Cora Meets Bony — Léo brings Bony and becomes more acquainted with Cora. Characters: Léo, Bony, CoraLocation: Parisian bar
Cora's Wild Reputation — Cora proves wild and liberated in her relations with men. Characters: Léo, Bony, CoraLocation: Parisian bar
Bony Falls Under Her Spell — Bony is also captivated by Cora. Characters: Bony, CoraLocation: Parisian bar
Léo And Cora Test Each Other — Léo and Cora try to tame each other because of their similar nature. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Paris
Dreams Of Departure
Léo and Cora enter a relationship as her unclear past and South American dream become more important. Cora gathers money for the trip, while Bony facilitates the couple's intimacy.
Key Events
Their Relationship Begins — The mutual struggle develops into a relationship. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Paris
Cora Reveals Her Dream — Cora's unclear past and dream of leaving for South America emerge. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Paris
Cora Saves Travel Money — Cora gathers the money needed for her planned trip. Characters: CoraLocation: Paris
Bony Lends His Apartment — Bony lends his apartment so Léo and Cora can spend the night together. Characters: Léo, Bony, CoraLocation: Bony's apartment
Bony And Cora Sleep Together — Bony hopes to seduce Cora, and she lets herself be seduced once. Characters: Bony, CoraLocation: Bony's apartment
Dawn Without A Promise
Léo falls deeply in love and accepts the possibility of only fifteen days together. At dawn, Cora leaves and picks Bony's pockets, collapsing the fragile arrangement.
Key Events
Léo Falls In Love — Léo increasingly falls in love and wants to leave with Cora. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Bony's apartment
Léo Accepts A Brief Future — Léo is ready to leave with Cora even if it lasts fifteen days. Characters: Léo, CoraLocation: Bony's apartment
Cora Leaves At Dawn — At dawn, Cora leaves while Léo's hoped-for future remains uncertain. Characters: Léo, Bony, CoraLocation: Bony's apartment
Bony Is Pickpocketed — Cora picks Bony's pockets as she departs. Characters: Bony, CoraLocation: Bony's apartment
The Lovers Are Separated — Cora's departure ends the immediate connection between the three characters. Characters: Léo, Cora, BonyLocation: Bony's apartment
Story Breakdown
Léo's Collapse — Léo rejects his current domestic situation and seeks relief from his depressed state.
Ending The Relationship — Léo decides one depressed morning to leave his current girlfriend.
Seeking Bony's Refuge — Léo imposes himself on his old friend Bony for shelter.
Nighttime Escape — Léo and Bony use Parisian nightlife to avoid confronting Léo's condition.
Drinking In Paris — Léo takes Bony on nighttime outings through Parisian bars.
Left To Drift — Bony leaves Léo alone before Léo returns by taxi.
The Taxi Encounter — Cora enters the story through an unconventional and intimate exchange with Léo.
Cora Drives Léo — Cora drives Léo home while noticing his sadness.
Fare Becomes Intimacy — Cora replaces the expected fare with a moment of love.
A Volatile Triangle — Léo's pursuit of Cora brings Bony into an unstable triangle of attraction.
Finding Cora's Bar — Léo returns with Bony to the bar where Cora said she goes.
Bony Falls For Cora — Bony becomes captivated by Cora and hopes to seduce her.
Dream Of Departure — Cora's wish to leave for South America gives the relationship a possible but unstable future.
Gathering Travel Money — Cora accumulates the money required for her planned trip.
Léo Accepts Fifteen Days — Léo is ready to leave with Cora even for a very brief future.
Dawn's Betrayal — The night ends with Cora's departure and a theft that exposes the relationship's fragility.
Bony's Apartment Night — Bony lends his apartment, where Cora allows herself to be seduced once.
Cora Picks Pockets — At dawn, Cora leaves after picking Bony's pockets.
Hoping to make a fresh start, Léo, a jazz musician, takes up temporary residence with his friend Bony, a young writer who is struggling to get his work published. One evening, Léo strikes up an acquaintance with a woman taxi driver, Cora; in spite of her impulsive and moody temperament, he cannot help being attracted to her. On the spur of the moment, Cora invites Léo to make love to her. When Bony meets Cora, he too finds her irresistible, but he lacks Léo’s self-confidence to make his move. Cora is not a woman that any man can possess readily. She is like a wild animal, a creature that revels in its freedom. Will either Léo or Bony be able to tame her...?
