While four actresses from Molière's itinerant theatrical troupe set off looking for a latrine, Molière (Bernard Giraudeau) and his best friend René Berthelot (Patrick Timsit) discover Marquise-Thérèse de Gorla (Sophie Marceau) dancing before an eager crowd of men. Her movements are provocative and are heightened by a heavy rain that drenches her hair and clothes. The men offer her coins for her performance, which are pocketed by Marquise's father. Gros-Rene immediately falls in love with Marquise. While an elderly gentlemen has his way with her, Gros-Rene proposes to her, promising that she will end up on a Paris stage if she accepts, which she does.