Bedtime Story

On the train to Beaumont-sur-Mer, Freddy demonstrates his slick conman bravado before Lawrence, who realizes the newcomer could threaten his own schemes. Lawrence tries to intimidate him and push him out of town. When that fails, he arranges Freddy's arrest, only to have him released later and shipped back to the United States by plane.

Freddy returns after the plane trip and uses the information learned on the plane to blackmail Lawrence into taking him on as an apprentice. He forces the refined con to teach him the ropes of high-society swindling and play by his rules.

Lawrence trains Freddy to perform Ruprecht, the mentally challenged brother, as a tactic to deter would-be brides from marrying the prince. The lesson is a weapon in their growing rivalry and helps Freddy blend into high society schemes. The con becomes a tool to protect Lawrence's operation while Freddy learns the game.

The two rivals decide there's not room for both in Beaumont-sur-Mer and strike a bet: the first to steal $25,000 from a chosen mark stays, the other must leave. They pick Janet Walker, an American Soap Queen, as their target and set their plan in motion.

Janet Walker is introduced as their mark: a naïve American heiress whose wealth is ripe for manipulation. Freddy and Lawrence map out a plan to exploit her generosity with the illusion of helping a sick man. The stakes heighten as both men recognize the potential payout.

Freddy pretends to be a soldier suffering psychosomatic paralysis, winning Janet's sympathy with a sob story about his sick grandmother. He convinces her that he needs $25,000 for treatment by a renowned psychiatrist. The deception tightens the hold on Janet as the con deepens.

Lawrence counters by posing as Dr. Emil Schaffhausen, offering to treat Freddy's 'condition' and demanding that Janet hand over the money directly to him. The double act intensifies the manipulation and keeps both men central to the plan. Janet remains torn between the two, unsure whom to trust.

The two con artists ruthlessly sabotage each other's chances, with Lawrence generally taking the upper hand in the early skirmishes. Freddy grows increasingly determined to outsmart his rival and win Janet's favor. The war of wits becomes the core engine of the plot.

Freddy discovers Janet is not a major heiress but the winner of an American Soap Queen contest, and that she intends to liquidate her belongings to fund the 'treatment'. Lawrence uses this knowledge to adjust his strategy, seeing an opportunity to exploit her generosity. The realization shifts the bets in surprising ways.

Freddy and Lawrence renegotiate the stakes: the first to get Janet into bed wins. Lawrence refuses to seduce Janet himself but bets that Freddy will fail, forcing Freddy to push his charm to the limit. The contest underscores the moral grayness of both men.

Freddy has Lawrence kidnapped by paratroopers he tricks into thinking Lawrence is stealing his girl. He then presses Janet to believe in his love by supposedly conquering the paralysis and walking, a staged moment meant to seal the bond. The carnival of deception reaches a fever pitch.

The soldiers occupy Freddy long enough for Lawrence to put Janet on a departing train. Just as the train leaves, Janet receives a telegram stating that Dr. Emil Schaffhausen has been dead since 1927, throwing her into confusion. She returns to her hotel room to reassess the situation.

Janet ultimately finds Freddy in her hotel room and, despite the chaos, appears entangled in his lure. He seems to have succeeded in seducing her, blurring the line between con and romance. The moment marks a turning point in their relationship.

Freddy and Janet marry and return to the United States, beginning a new life together. Lawrence concedes defeat but notes that Freddy is happier than he is, while muttering that a new mark awaits, implying that a man must learn to live with his misery.