A cinema magnate dies in a grand mansion in London. All his possessions are bequeathed to an unknown son of his: René Marechal. Major Owen, the deceased's only friend, and elegant ex gambler, alcoholic and a good person, decides to look for this person. In the toilet of a cabaret in Panama, Arlette, a cabaret girl, discovers the advertisement looking for René, her son. She excitedly tells this to Lota, her work colleague. Arlette is killed that same night. Owen takes a ship to Tahiti. One night he discovers a stowaway in a lifeboat: Lota.