Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece

Professor Calculus's friend develops a blue-skinned orange that can grow on any kind of land and survive harsh weather (in the manner of Lue Gim Gong) and therefore solve world hunger. The Professor and his friends, however, run afoul of gangsters who also covet the fruit. The adventure takes them from their home in Marlinspike Hall (Moulinsart), a fictional mansion that is presumably in Belgium, to Spain, where Calculus and another scientist are kidnapped.

Two ambitious young provincials, Patrick and Michel, go to Paris to seek their fortune. Patrick seems to be the epitome of the up-and-comer at any price: with no scruples whatsoever, he manages to break into the world of finance, i.e. into the home of banker Philippe Haguenauer. He soon becomes the lover of the woman, Hélène, director of a major fashion house, while Philippe, for his part, is having the perfect love affair with Nadine, his secretary. And this with the mutual consent of both spouses. Meanwhile, Michel, shy and sentimental, is looking for a situation, while remaining honest.

Michel, a young man of Ukrainian origin, flees the Red Army and joins the International Brigades in Perpignan to fight Franco. He was arrested for being Russian, Communist and deserter. He was wounded by his involvement, but fell in love with an American journalist.

Out of prison after a five-year stretch, jewel thief Tony turns down a quick job his friend Jo offers him, until he discovers that his old girlfriend Mado has become the lover of local gangster Pierre Grutter during Tony's absence. Expanding a minor smash-and-grab into a full-scale jewel heist, Tony and his crew appear to get away clean, but their actions after the job is completed threaten the lives of everyone involved.