A young couple of burglars, waiting for trial, marry in jail. Annick writes down her observations of the women's ward. When she hears that her lover must serve a twice as long prison sentence, she plans their escape.

Nina lives with her family in a superb property in the French region of Landes. She loves her cousin Jean who is overprotected by his possessive mother, Eva. There is war and, after the French defeat, Jean wants to reach London.