The young Frenchman Jean Monnier, despite his age, holds a position at the New York office of the Holmann Bank. Everything would therefore be going for the best in the best of all possible worlds, if he did not learn, in quick succession on the very same day, first that he is ruined, and second that his wife Fanny has just left him. Enough to make one wish to put an end to it all and leave this vale of tears as quickly as possible.

Fred is a gambler and deep in debt. He owes crime boss Victor a lot of money and the time to pay has come. He decides to take a massive risk to refund his debts and agrees to kill a man. Fred knows he has to pay his debt and that the only way to do it is to carry out the hit arranged by Victor.