In Paris

A few days before Christmas, Paul, who’d left Paris to live in the country, returns to his father’s house following a violent dispute with his girlfriend. Depressed, he rarely comes out of his room. In an effort to cheer Paul up, his brother Jonathan makes him a bet that he can get to the Bon Marché and back in 32 minutes.

If he wins, Paul will have to go out with him. If he loses, Paul can stay shut up in his room. While Jonathan is en route, Paul’s mother comes to visit him, also in an attempt to cheer him up, but stirs up old resentments about his father, her ex-husband.