The film is presented in the style of a historical documentary, with an elderly Dehousse narrating the events of his life, interspersed with interviews with other characters and historians.

In Paris, he is taken under the wing of Captain Dionnet, a homosexual Free French fighter, who finds Albert a place to stay in a local brothel.

Eventually, Jo is arrested, and at the same time the Captain enlists to fight in Germany, having fallen in love with an American soldier.

Through careful observation, study and bluffing, together with his memories of the Captain's stories, he manages to gain access to Resistance circles and eventually befriends many veterans.

Eventually, on the strength of his network and popularity, and his extensive memory of names of collaborators from his time with M. Jo, Albert is given a junior government position advising on suitability of appointments.

One officer, Boutin, becomes suspicious of him after Albert claims to be suffering from an old bullet wound to excuse a poor performance at tennis, but is unable to persuade any of his colleagues.

The next morning, Albert's unit is called to investigate a raid on a village by what are believed to be SS resistance members.

The group turn out to be French members of the Charlemagne Division, who cannot return to France for fear of punishment and are stealing to survive.