Fernand (Bernard Bloch) leaves prison with every intention of abiding by the laws of the land and becoming a decent citizen. What he encounters is a raft of very indecent citizens whose cruel manipulation, greed, brutality, and undeniably coarse behavior would be enough to turn Mary Poppins into a raving terrorist. Fernand is no saint, but after his experiences with life outside the prison, life inside seems idyllic.