1912, Feuillange, in Lorraine. Sack of coal on his back, Horty wins, once more, the annual race organised by his foundry owner boss, Mr Siméon. His prize is priceless: a trip to Southampton to see the Titanic, before it sails on its maiden voyage. Horty goes alone, leaving behind his wife Zoé, whom Mr Siméon has his eye on. In England, Horty meets Marie, a young lady due to embark the next day on the Titanic as a chambermaid. She has no-where to spend the night. He gives her his bed. She quickly makes room for him... In the morning Horty awakes, alone. While the Titanic heads out to sea, Horty heads back to Lorraine. Of Marie, he has but a photo which he cherishes close to his breast. Back home, everything seems changed. Horty suspects Zoé of having yielded to the boss's advances. One evening he goes to the café, shows the photo of Marie and tells his pals of the night of love he'd spent with her. He tells to his liking, as only he really knows what happened that night in Southampton. He alone, as Marie's name wasn't on the list of survivors...Unless she managed, one way or another, to escape a watery grave...