In 1875, Clio Dulaine (Ingrid Bergman), the illegitimate daughter of an aristocratic New Orleans French Louisiana Creole people father and a light-skinned Creole woman of color who was his placée, returns from Paris to her birthplace in Rampart Street to avenge her mother's mistreatment at the hands of her father's family, the Dulaines. Years ago, Clio's mother accidentally killed Dulaine when he tried to prevent her from committing suicide, and the scandalized Dulaines then exiled Clio and her mother to Paris. Clio is accompanied by her Haitian people maid, Angelique (Flora Robson), and her dwarf manservant, Cupidon (Jerry Austin).