 A tramp roams the streets of Paris, remembering the days when other people still noticed him, before he became homeless and invisible - just a "black hole in the city" to ordinary people. In those distant days, he was the partner in a promising small business. Betty, twelve years younger, loved him with all her heart, admired his vigor, and bore him an adorable little girl called Francine. At 55, he s on the scrap heap and about ready to go under - no one would miss him, anyway. Then, during a scuffle, a dog befriends him and starts to follow him around.