Michel Poiccard is a petty thief who makes money by stealing cars and driving them to Paris to resell. When Michel is pulled over by a motorcycle policeman he shoots him dead and must find a way to escape the closing dragnet. In Paris Michel pilfers more money from an old girlfriend, and mugs a stranger in a rest room, and looks up American girlfriend Patricia Franchini, an aspiring journalist who hawks the New York Herald Tribune on the Champs Elysées. Michel needs to collect money for his car but also is emotionally drawn to Patricia. Having slept with her previously and seeking a more stable bond, Patricia is apprehensive about their eventual success together. After Michel has collected his money and makes plans for him and Patricia to go away together, Patricia learns from the police about Michel′s crime background and must make a difficult decision that may change their lives forever.
