Annie, a 16 years old girl, loves Frédéric who is away doing his national service. During her holidays in the country, she meets Alexandre. He's older, owns a car and she experiences the "first time" with him. Back during a leave, Frédéric finds his sweetheart in the arms of this clumsy oaf and eventually hits it off with him.

Professor Henri Laborit uses three people's stories to discuss behaviourist theories of survival, combat, rewards and punishment, and anxiety: René is a technical manager at a textile factory and must face the anxiety caused by corporate downsizing; Janine is a self-educated actress/stylist who learns that the wife of her lover is dying and must decide to let them reunite; and Jean is a controversial career-climbing writer/politician at a crossroads in life.

A French diplomat is surveilled by a secret service to find a weakness for political control, his private life becoming 'File No. 51'.

Antoine, an accountant by trade, becomes a private detective to support his family. His wanderings lead him to transport a cargo of malachite to Le Havre, in the hope of a large bonus. With the help of his family, and despite a few mishaps, Antoine achieves his goal.