Fabre
The cynical boss of a big insurance agency invites his top-salary employees to spend a week-end in his country house. A modest clerical worker, also invited, discovers the hidden reason for this party - and decides to take advantage of it.
Max Baumstein, Presidente del Movimiento Internacional de Solidaridad, un organismo con sede en París, se reúne con el embajador de Paraguay en Francia para conseguir la liberación de una joven británica. Pero, después de un breve intercambio de palabras, Max mata a tiros al embajador. Durante su arresto, le confiesa a su esposa los motivos de su acción: en 1933, cuando Hitler asciende al poder, uno de sus secuaces mató al padre de Max. Acogido por Elsa, una cantante de opereta, y por el editor Michel Wiener, Max pasó su infancia y adolescencia escondido hasta que consiguió refugiarse en París.
Monsieur
Cardinal Mazarin dies, leaving a power vacuum in which the young Louis asserts his intention to govern as well as rule. Mazarin's fiscal advisor, Colbert, warns against Fouquet, the Superintendant who has been systematically looting the treasury and wants to be prime minister. Fouquet believes Louis will soon tire of exercizing power and overplays his hand by offering a bribe to Louis' mistress to be his ally. She reports this to the king who arrests Fouquet. Louis and Colbert design a brilliant strategy to keep merchants making money, nobles in debt, the urban poor working and fed, and peasants untaxed.
