Two crooks with a fondness for old Hollywood B-movies convince a languages student to help them commit a robbery.

Besotted with cheap crime fiction, cinema, and popular culture, bored-to-death English language students Franz and Arthur love living in a dream world. But more than anything, the two layabouts fancy themselves a gang. In the meantime, Franz and Arthur vie for Odile's attention. And when their romantic classmate tips them off about a mountain of cash stashed in an unlocked cabinet in Aunt Victoria's suburban Joinville-le-Pont house, it's game on. As the amateur criminals take an immediate interest in Odile's incidental mention, they devise a plan and iron out the details of an audacious robbery--just like in the movies. However, what happens if Arthur's uncle and all-powerful love stand in the way of the perfect heist?—Nick Riganas

A triangle: Franz, Arthur, and Odile. Franz, a young man with Alain Delon good looks, has met Odile in an English class. She lives in Joinville with wealthy benefactors and has mentioned to Franz that Mr. Stolz keeps a pile of 10,000 franc notes unlocked in his room. Franz tells his friend Arthur, a swarthy guy whose shady uncle is pressing him for money. Arthur and Franz, who mimic American movie tough guys, case Odile's house, pressure her to assist them with a burglary, and make passes at her as well. She's alternately compliant and distressed. Will they pull off the heist?—<[email protected]>