In a small Parisian suburb, the body of a murdered woman is discovered, triggering a wave of gossip and suspicion among the townspeople. Living in this close-knit community is the reclusive and eccentric Monsieur Hire, who stands out due to his peculiar habits and aloof demeanor. As the police investigate, the community's mistrust towards Hire grows, compounded by the arrival of Alice, an enigmatic and alluring woman with a checkered past. Fresh out of prison, Alice rekindles her romance with Alfred, a charming but unscrupulous man who has ulterior motives involving the crime.

With secrets and tensions simmering beneath the surface, Monsieur Hire becomes increasingly ostracized as he finds himself at the center of the town’s scrutiny. As layers of deception are gradually peeled back, the true nature of the characters and their relationships start to emerge. The sinister undertones in their interactions hint at deeper, possibly dangerous connections to the murder. As events build towards a climax, underlying motives are revealed and the fate of the characters becomes intertwined with the truth behind the crime.