Gilbert Quercy, 18, tried to commit suicide after a heartache. At the hospital, three women try to cheer him up : the three former wives of his father, an archaeologist and an egyptologist, whom Gilbert called his "mothers". These women show a lot of willingness, but soon will become intrusive.

Young Gervaise has been very unhappy since her friend abandoned her. The man named Coupeau, a sympathetic roofing worker, takes her under his protection and tries to make her forget her dramatic breakup. But Coupeau is unable to free himself from alcoholism and soon Gervaise finds herself on the street.

Suzette and Jack form a very nice and rather well-matched couple. The latter is the partner of the new clown Teddy who seems to please the young lady a lot.

Julien Villandrit owns a textile factory whose manager, Henri Corrandi, is his childhood friend. Both love the same woman, Régine de Bettigny, who grants her hand to Villandrit. Mad with jealousy, Corradin will use all means to break up the couple: he does not hesitate to compromise Régine, to send Julien to prison for a crime he did not commit, to spread misfortune. But despite a long and painful separation, Julien and Régine will find each other, still bound by the same love.

At the beginning of World War I in a village in the country of La Marne, two families are against the marriage of their children. The war changes the positions.

Music seller and singer on occasion, Jacques Gardel learns from master Jérôme Quilleboeuf that he inherits oil fields located in Big Bend in Texas.

The director of a private institution is the father of seven charming young girls. He has money worries. A rich bachelor, still young, a few years ago advanced him a large sum of money. He makes frequent visits to his debtor; the poor father, as mediocre a psychologist as he is a poor businessman, hammers himself in his head, not guessing that the visitor is reluctant to make his choice between the seven sisters.

A middle aged baroness thinks she is still young enough to have an affair with a military man the age of her son.She deserts her family and follows the youth to Algeria.

In the harbor of Toulon, on the “Ocean” training ship, the apprenticeship of the cabin boys and experts of the Navy is punctuated by permissions in town, friendships, bullying, and loves.

Isidore Lechat is a ruthless self-made man whose money allows him to humiliate the others, particularly a ruined noble: he wants his daughter to marry this marquis's son but the girl is in love with a young scientist.