Henry Holland is a mild-mannered and unassuming bank clerk who has been dutifully supervising gold bullion deliveries for nearly 20 years. Despite his impeccable record, he harbors a covert dream of orchestrating the perfect heist. The arrival of a new lodger, artist and small-time crook Alfred Pendlebury, provides him with an ideal accomplice. Holland convinces Pendlebury to help him execute a plan to steal a million pounds worth of gold bullion and smuggle it out of the country by disguising the ingots as tourist souvenirs, specifically miniature Eiffel Tower statues, which can be easily transported to Paris.

Holland and Pendlebury carry out their meticulously plotted heist with the assistance of two petty criminals, Shorty and Lackery. Their scheme involves melting the gold down to recast it into the souvenirs, then covertly transporting it across the English Channel. The initial stages of the operation unfold smoothly, with the team dodging various hurdles and closely avoiding suspicion. However, unexpected complications arise that threaten to unravel their meticulously crafted plan and expose their criminal activities. The group finds themselves entangled in a series of unforeseen events that test their resolve and resourcefulness as they navigate the precarious aftermath of their high-stakes robbery.