A woman escapes a police raid, finds temporary refuge in a castle, and leaves again after being forced into a robbery.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Escape from the Brothel
A police raid sweeps through the clandestine provincial brothel. Célestine escapes and receives shelter before being brought toward the castle.
Key Events
Police Raid on Brothel — A police raid disrupts the clandestine brothel where Célestine works. Characters: CélestineLocation: Clandestine provincial brothel
Mass Arrest — Everyone in the brothel is rounded up during the police operation. Characters: CélestineLocation: Clandestine provincial brothel
Célestine Escapes — Célestine manages to escape the police raid. Characters: CélestineLocation: Provincial brothel
Shelter with the Gardener — The gardener shelters Célestine after her escape. Characters: CélestineLocation: A garden near the castle
First Castle Encounter — Célestine is brought into contact with the castle household. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle grounds
A Place in the Castle
Castle staff propose that Célestine enter domestic service. She becomes an all-purpose maid within the household.
Key Events
Shelter with the Valet — The valet also shelters Célestine after her escape. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle service quarters
A Service Proposal — The two staff members propose placing Célestine in domestic service. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Célestine Enters Service — Célestine begins working as an all-purpose maid. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Life in the Household — Célestine becomes part of the daily life of the castle. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle interior
The Castle Household
Célestine becomes involved with most of the male occupants. She also reads erotic pages daily to the bedridden duke.
Key Events
Célestine Gains Favor — Célestine develops intimate relationships with most male occupants. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
The Countess Refuses — The countess remains the notable exception to Célestine's intimate relationships. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Daily Erotic Reading — Célestine reads several pages of erotic material to the bedridden duke each day. Characters: CélestineLocation: The duke's room
The Coerced Robbery
A former brothel henchman traces Célestine to the castle and forces her to assist in robbing it. He then makes her leave with him.
Key Events
A Former Henchman Returns — A former henchman from the brothel finds Célestine's trail. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Forced Robbery Plan — The former henchman forces Célestine to help rob the castle. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Preparation to Leave — Célestine is compelled to prepare for the robbery and departure. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Castle Robbery — The former brothel henchman carries out the robbery with Célestine's forced assistance. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Forced Departure — Célestine is forced to leave the castle with the robber. Characters: CélestineLocation: Outside the castle
Rescue and Departure
The castle household becomes convinced of Célestine's innocence and comes to her aid. Despite being cherished at the castle, she leaves regretfully for further adventures.
Key Events
Household Learns the Truth — The castle household becomes convinced that Célestine is innocent. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle
Household Rescue — The household goes to help Célestine after recognizing her innocence. Characters: CélestineLocation: The road from the castle
Leaving the Castle — Although she could have remained cherished at the castle, Célestine leaves regretfully for new adventures. Characters: CélestineLocation: Castle and its surroundings
Story Breakdown
Brothel Raid — The opening crisis destroys Célestine's former situation and initiates her escape.
Police Invasion — A police descent interrupts the clandestine provincial brothel.
Mass Arrest — Everyone present is rounded up during the raid.
Escape and Shelter — Célestine avoids arrest and is sheltered after fleeing the brothel.
Célestine Escapes — Célestine manages to get away from the police operation.
Two Shelters — The gardener and the valet each provide her temporary shelter.
Castle Employment — Célestine is redirected from escapee to domestic worker inside the castle.
Service Proposal — The two staff members propose placing her in the household.
All Purpose Maid — Célestine begins working as a maid at the castle.
Household Intimacy — Célestine becomes closely involved with the castle's male occupants.
Most Male Occupants — She enters intimate relationships with nearly all of the male residents.
Erotic Readings — She reads erotic pages daily to the bedridden duke.
Robbery Coercion — A figure from Célestine's former life forces her into a criminal plot.
Henchman Finds Her — A former brothel henchman traces Célestine to the castle.
Forced Castle Robbery — He compels Célestine to help rob the castle and leave with him.
Rescue and Departure — The household recognizes Célestine's innocence, but she ultimately chooses to move on.
Household Intervention — The castle household comes to help after believing she is innocent.
New Adventures — Célestine leaves the castle regretfully despite having a cherished place there.
The story opens with Celestine eluding arrest with a friend as the police raid a brothel. While hiding out in the hayloft of the Count de la Braquette's estate, she meets the hayseed handyman Sébastien and the butler Malou, who reward her favors with the offer of employment. In a manner recalling Terence Stamp's effect on the household in TEOREMA, Celestine's open and relaxed attitude toward sexuality has a transformative effect on the isolated, moribund inhabitants of the mansion, imbuing them with gift of renewed life for the men and women alike, that remains even after a third act twist that forces her to betray them.
