Robert, a Jewish Frenchman who lives in America — and an avid skier since he was young — is on the ski-lift with his new (American) friend Mac. They chat amiably with a group of other Americans when Robert overhears a rude comment in German about American tourists. He tries not to let it bother him, as he often sees rude behavior from Germans at the ski resorts, but after another comment he turns to see who it is, and recognizes the speaker. As he thinks back to when he was fourteen, Robert recalls when he broke his leg on the ski slope at a time when no one knew he was out, as he had gone against his parents' wishes and went for a difficult ski. It was near dark, and Robert had begun to panic. A competent skier came by, and Robert called out for help. The man was the foul-mouthed German now near him on the ski lift. When the man had run into Robert way back then, he had helped him by removing his skis and moving him onto a nearby tree stump. He asked Robert for his name and nationality, said he would send for help and call his parents to find him, then skied off. After a couple hours with no help in sight, Robert was freezing. He started to drag himself, and managed to slide across the ski run where he miraculously gets the attention of a peasant passing by.
Robert tells his parents about the German in the hospital after his leg has been set. At first they don't quite believe him, but then Robert remembers to tell them that he had to speak to the guy in German, and they realize why the man might have left a child to die in the snow. They never find the man, as Robert's father doesn't want to tell the police. Now, he is three feet from Robert, and stares back at him insolently, but without recognition. Robert starts to fantasize about how he will murder this man, and slips off his gloves to expose his bare hands for a fight. He thinks about how much he hates him, and thinks about his father, dead in occupied France during the war, and his mother, exiled to America.
At the top, Robert stalks off of the ski lift and waves off his friend Mac by saying that he doesn't feel well. He waits for the German to come out of the station, but when he does, he is surprised to see that the man has to hop on one leg, with other cut off at the thigh. All he can do now is watch, bitter at the chance that has been taken away from him, as he knows he is not cruel enough to punish a man who is already disabled. Instead, he catches up with Mac and has a nice lunch with him and the girl Mac is pursuing, who gives him her card.