A conservative couple's elaborate fake pregnancy charade exposes their hypocrisy.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Liberal Facade
Loretta and Henri establish their conservative reality while masquerading as liberal do-gooders in late 60s France. Their bistro, The Full Belly, becomes overwhelmed with orders, prompting a hiring decision.
Key Events
Late 60s France Setting — Introduction to the couple's establishment and social environment. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: The Full Belly Bistro
Conservative Reality — The couple maintains traditional views while projecting a liberal image. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: Private Residence
Pillars of Community — Self-described pillars actively managing public perception. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: Town Square
Bistro Overwhelmed — Orders pile up, necessitating immediate staff expansion. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: The Full Belly Bistro
Hiring Diamantine — The couple hires Diamantine, a poor black orphan, as a waitress. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Bistro Entrance
Live-in Arrangement — Diamantine moves in as a live-in employee to assist with duties. Characters: Diamantine, Loretta, HenriLocation: Couple's Home
The Hiring and the Home
Diamantine is hired as a live-in waitress and told she is family. Meanwhile, the couple secretly fosters town disapproval against her, creating a dual reality.
Key Events
Live-in Arrangement — Diamantine moves in as a live-in employee to assist with duties. Characters: Diamantine, Loretta, HenriLocation: Couple's Home
False Familial Bond — The couple tells Diamantine she is officially one of the family. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Dining Room
Public Prejudice — The couple actively encourages widespread disapproval of Diamantine. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: Town Streets
Diamantine's Trust — Diamantine remains a trusting employee despite the contradictory environment. Characters: DiamantineLocation: Bistro Kitchen
The Shady Proposal — The couple proposes an extended joke involving a fake pregnancy. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Private Study
Charade Agreement — Diamantine agrees to carry the joke to full term, entangling herself. Characters: Diamantine, Loretta, HenriLocation: Living Room
The Pregnancy Charade
The couple convinces Diamantine to fake a pregnancy for an extended joke. A shady associate joins the scheme, and the deception escalates as public attention grows.
Key Events
Charade Agreement — Diamantine agrees to carry the joke to full term, entangling herself. Characters: Diamantine, Loretta, HenriLocation: Living Room
Shady Assistance — A shady friend assists in managing the elaborate charade logistics. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: Bistro Backroom
Fake Pregnancy Begins — The couple and Diamantine initiate the physical execution of the ruse. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Bistro
Town Reaction Shifts — Public opinion fluctuates as the fake pregnancy gains traction. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Town Square
Hypocrisy Strain — The couple struggles with the weight of their liberal masquerade. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: Private Residence
Diamantine's Doubt — Diamantine begins questioning the longevity and morality of the joke. Characters: DiamantineLocation: Bistro Kitchen
Unraveling Deception
Diamantine's trust turns to doubt as the charade strains under its own weight. The couple's hypocrisy peaks, leading to a public confrontation and the collapse of the elaborate ruse.
Key Events
Diamantine's Doubt — Diamantine begins questioning the longevity and morality of the joke. Characters: DiamantineLocation: Bistro Kitchen
Charade Escalates — The deception reaches a critical mass requiring public acknowledgment. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Town Hall
Confrontation at Home — Diamantine confronts the couple about the emotional toll of the charade. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Couple's Home
Shady Friend's Exit — The shady associate withdraws as the situation becomes too complex. Characters: Loretta, HenriLocation: Bistro
Climax of Deception — The fake pregnancy reaches its peak during a public bistro event. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Bistro Stage
Truth Revealed — The elaborate charade collapses, exposing the couple's true nature. Characters: Loretta, Henri, DiamantineLocation: Bistro Dining Area
Resolution of Charade — The deception ends, leaving the characters to navigate the aftermath. Characters: Diamantine, Loretta, HenriLocation: Bistro Entrance
Story Breakdown
Conservative Facade — The couple maintains private traditional views while projecting a progressive public image.
Liberal Masquerade — Loretta and Henri actively pretend to be modern do-gooders in late 60s France.
Community Pillars — They cultivate a reputation as respected local figures to mask their true nature.
Bistro Operations — The Full Belly bistro faces operational strain, driving the couple's hiring decisions.
Order Overload — Piling customer orders force the couple to seek immediate external help.
Staff Expansion — The business requires a live-in employee to maintain daily service standards.
Diamantine Hiring — A poor black orphan is brought into the couple's household under false pretenses.
Live-in Arrangement — Diamantine moves into the couple's home to assist with bistro and domestic duties.
Familial Promise — The couple verbally assures Diamantine that she is officially one of the family.
Public Manipulation — The couple actively shapes community perception to isolate Diamantine socially.
Town Disapproval — Loretta and Henri encourage widespread prejudice against Diamantine among locals.
Social Hypocrisy — They maintain a liberal facade while privately fostering discriminatory attitudes.
Pregnancy Scheme — The couple devises an elaborate deception involving a fabricated pregnancy.
Fake Conception — Diamantine is convinced to pretend she is carrying a child for an extended period.
Extended Joke — The ruse is framed as a long-running practical joke to test Diamantine's trust.
Charade Execution — The deception escalates as external associates and public attention become involved.
Shady Assistance — A questionable friend of the couple helps manage the complex logistical details.
Public Performance — The fake pregnancy is displayed publicly, drawing increasing community scrutiny.
Deception Collapse — The weight of the lie eventually fractures the charade and exposes the truth.
Diamantine Doubt — Diamantine begins questioning the morality and longevity of the ongoing deception.
Final Confrontation — The elaborate ruse unravels, forcing a direct clash between the couple and Diamantine.
Maverick director Melvin Van Peebles translates his own satirical novel to the screen with this multi-national portrait of race, class, and hypocrisy. The film's title refers to the name of a haute cuisine restaurant run by a self-satisfied conservative couple, Henri and Loretta. When the two find themselves overworked in the kitchen, they retreat to the local orphanage to find some cheap waitressing help, and the teenaged Diamantine fits the bill perfectly. The haughty couple has more plans for the girl than just waiting tables, however -- the conspicuously accommodating Henri and Loretta are actually bad-mouthing the girl behind her back to the townspeople and the restaurant's patrons. They go so far as to ask the naive Diamantine to pretend that she's pregnant, and she complies under the assumption that it's a harmless prank. When their intentions are revealed, however, the girl becomes wise to the couple's self-satisfied scheming, and sets her sights on revenge.
