HonoréPanisseisdying,cheerfully,withfriends,wife,andsonathisside.Heconfessestothepriestinfrontofhisfriends;heinsiststhatthedoctorbetruthful.But,hecannotbringhimselftotellhissonCesariotthathisrealfatherisMarius,theabsentsonofCésar,Cesariot'sgodfather.PanisseleavesthattoFanny,thelad'smother.Dissemblingthathe'sofftoseeafriend,CesariotthenseeksMarius,nowamechanicinToulon.Posingasajournalist,CesariotspendstimewithMariusandleavesbelievingtalesheisapettythief.OnlyafterthetruthcomesoutcanMarius,Fanny,César,andCesariotstepbeyondthefalsehoods,benignthoughtheymaybe.