It’s 1920s Paris and courtesan Lea commits the cardinal sin – falling in love with and beginning a six year affair with her latest fling and son of her colleague, Cheri. The pair’s romance is halted when Cheri’s mother, Madame Peloux, arranges a marriage between her young son and an acquaintance’s daughter. Cheri and Lea’s reaction is to feign indifference about their parting ways – but their true feelings are another matter.