A Black man returns to Paris from Spain, looking all over the city for his friend Roger-D when it begins to rain. Roger-D is difficult to track down because the protagonist knows him as a heroin addict and pimp who constantly moved around and never left a forwarding address lest an enemy was trying to find him. Finally, the protagonist comes across an apartment, expecting Roger to open it. One of Roger's prostitutes, Lulu, does instead. She informs him that Roger is being treated in the hospital and that the two of them have eloped. Then she sends him off without telling him how to find Roger.

He visits another friend of his, Andre, who was a car thief. Now, Andre has given up his life of outright thievery and plans to put on a puppet show while a buddy of his pickpockets audience members for extra cash. When he finally leaves Andre, the protagonist asks for a little money, but Andre is only able to spare a dollar. The protagonist then roams the city as it begins hailing, which sends him into a nearby church to hide and spend the night.

In the morning, he finds Roger's hospital and visits him with a bag of fresh fruit that he bought with Andre's money. Roger is sarcastic and abrasive toward him, making fun of his passion for guitars. Lulu cuts the visit short when she struts in. Before he leaves, Roger rummages around her purse, puts 50 francs in the fruit bag, and returns it to his old friend.