Any Number Can Win

Charles walks free after five years in prison. His wife wants him to go straight, but he immediately starts plotting to rob the Cannes casino, driven by a hunger for money and a desire to prove himself.

Charles hires two assistants: Francis, a young ex-prisoner, and Louis, a humble mechanic with a mostly honest streak. He sees in them the skills and loyalty needed to pull off the casino heist. The trio starts to form the core of the plan.

Francis travels to the casino ahead of the planned robbery and fabricates a cover as an affluent high-roller to gain access. He also begins a romance with Brigitte, the casino dancer, using it to further his position. The setup marks the first step toward the intricate deception needed for the heist.

Francis finds himself drawn to Brigitte and starts neglecting Charles's communications. The romance tempts him to stray from the plan, creating tension and risk of the whole operation unraveling.

Louis decides to forgo his share of the proceeds, fearing that wealth will corrupt him and lead to more illegal behavior. His stance adds moral tension to the crew and foreshadows potential complications.

On the night of the heist, Francis ends his romance with Brigitte and prepares to execute the plan. He hides backstage, descends through the casino ventilation system, and makes his way to the elevator shaft for access to the basement vault.

Francis penetrates the counting room and subdues the head cashier and his assistants. He then signals Charles, who slips in to begin loading the money into bags. The room falls into a tense hush as the plan moves from intention to action.

Charles and Francis secure the bags of cash and depart the counting room with the loot. They manage to leave the casino with a staggering amount, moving quickly to avoid detection. The money is later hidden in a swimming pool locker room for concealment.

The next day, Charles unexpectedly sends Louis on a train out of town. He then demands to meet Francis immediately, signaling that another phase of the plan is in motion and that Francis’s role is under scrutiny.

Charles shows Francis the front page of a newspaper with a photo of him taken the night before. He declares Francis too risky and orders him to retrieve the bags and arrange a swap near the pool, tightening control over the operation.

Francis attempts to move the bags but finds police swarming the pool area, making the handoff nearly impossible. He also overhears a cashier describing the look of the suitcases used in the robbery, heightening the sense of danger.

In a last-ditch effort, Francis places the bags in the pool, hoping to slip them to Charles during the commotion. One bag breaks open, and the money floats to the top, exposing the plan and leaving the duo stunned by the reversal of fate.