Stand-By

Married for five years, Gerard (Patrick Catalifo) and Helene (Dominique Blanc) are at Paris' Orly South airport, where they are planning to take a flight to Buenos Aires to begin a new life in Argentina. However, at the last minute, Gerard informs Helene that he is ending their relationship, and departs for Argentina alone. Helene, distraught, decides to stay at the airport, which has showers and restaurants. When her money eventually runs out, Helene takes a proposition for sex by an older physician (Gamil Ratib) and thus embarks on a new profession as a prostitute. She also becomes stronger and more self-assured, and starts to befriend a number of airport workers, including a stewardess who regularly flies to Buenos Aires and promises to post letters to Helene's family in France.