Aimé Prado (Roger Hanin) is the boisterous manager of a successful restaurant in Marseilles, a man biased against Arabs but otherwise (selectively) good-hearted. One day while out fishing, he is saved from drowning by Julien (Gerard Darmon), a very reserved, even sullen young man whom Aime immediately brings home in gratitude. While Aime's socializing nature slowly begins to overcome Julien's aloof attitude, his daughter Catherine (Magali Renoir) takes an interest in the visitor and soon the two are romantically involved. Aime is fine with that until he finds out that Julien is half-Arab, and what is more, he is an escaped convict who was charged with murder (although he says that the death was accidental). Now Aime has to decide on what action to take -- should he help Julien or turn him in?