The first to die in an epidemic of meningitis in Vera Cruz is a French tourist. His wife Nellie, detached and indifferent, feels little grief and realizes that her coldness is her own doom. Over the next two days, she is attracted to George, a local drunk who does odd jobs for brothels and dances grotesquely for tourists in exchange for drinks. George has his own dark secret, a tragedy he caused that leaves him with a death wish. In assisting the local doctor to cope with the epidemic, these two emotional cripples enable each other to rediscover reasons to live and to love.

Director: Yves Allégret, Rafael E. Portas

Writer: Jean Aurenche, Jean Clouzot, Yves Allégret

Actors: Michèle Morgan, Gérard Philipe, Víctor Manuel Mendoza

Production: N/A