It is turn of the century in Belle Epoque Paris and a scandalous romp is underfoot. The sensational tale begins as the ravishing Lea contemplates retirement from her renowned stature as Paris' most envied seductress to the rich and famous. Her plans are cut short when she is approached by a former courtesan and arch rival, the barb-throwing gossip Charlotte Peloux, who encourages Lea to teach her disaffected 19-year-old son -- a bon vivant nicknamed "Cheri" -- a thing or two about women. The resulting escapades involve power struggles over sex, money, age and society -- and, unexpectedly, love itself -- as a boy who refuses to grow up collides with a woman who realizes she cannot stay young forever.