AmericanagentsintentonwipingoutBolsheviksareafterRoberto--anArgentineexpatriatewriter,inventorandCommunistinRotterdamin1941.Herunsfromthemwithhisbriefcasefullofhisinvention--non-runningsilkstockings--andmoneyhehasreceivedfromtheJapaneseforhisinvention.Heaccidentallytumblesdownastairwellandintoawhorehouse.HegivestheMadamealargeportionofhismoneyandgoesupstairswithLuba,oneoftheprostitutes,towaitouttheAmericans.Bythetimethenightisover,hehasfalleninlovewithher.