Released from prison after a 10-year sentence, Gino Strabliggi (Alain Delon) befriends a kindly social worker (Jean Gabin) and returns home to live an honest life. But soon after his homecoming, his wife (Illaria Occhini) is killed in an automobile accident. Moving to a new town, Gino eventually finds love again with Lucie (Mimsy Farmer), despite harassment from an inspector (Michel Bouquet) who believes he'll never be more than a criminal.