In 1791, French novelist
Nicolas-Edme Restif patronizes at a local brothel where he learns from a maid at the Royal Palace that
Louis XVI may attempt to escape from Paris. When he returns home, Restif learns from his daughter Agnès that
Thomas Paine is traveling to
Metz. Intrigued to witness the king's escape, Restif wants to accompany those inside the carriage, but he is turned away. The carriage transports Paine; Countess Sophie de la Borde; wealthy industrialist De Wendel; Italian opera singer Virginia Capacelli; wealthy widow Madame Adélaïde Gagnon; and Monsieur Jacob, a prissy hairdresser. Restif catches up with the carriage on horseback. Along the way, they stop in
Meaux, where Restif learns that Louis XVI may have left Paris earlier at midnight. Paine uses a map to chart the king is headed for
Montmédy, near the
France–Luxembourg border. They resume their journey where they stop for
Giacomo Casanova, who has been left stranded along the road. Sophie is immediately attracted to him. With no other choice, Casanova joins them for the ride. Inside the carriage, Casanova's reputation is well known to the passengers, though he reveals he is destitute. He also correctly guesses the background of each female passenger, including Sophie who is a
lady-in-waiting. Outside, Paine and De Wendel discuss their political ideologies, concerning the
abolition of slavery and the philosophy of
natural rights. The carriage makes another stop, where they learn
General Lafayette has ordered for citizens to have Louis XVI and the royal family arrested and returned to the
National Assembly. An argument ensues between Paine and Sophie, who supports the
French nobility for being charitable and believes in the king's
divine right to rule. Paine responds the French citizenry demand their rights, not charity, and believes the divine right of kings is illegitimate. Meanwhile, Casanova leaves separately to head back to
Dux,
Bohemia. As the carriage heads towards Metz, Restif reunites with Casanova, who explains he has invited back to his famed
Dux Castle by
Count Waldstein. Before long, news spreads that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette have been arrested by
Jean-Baptiste Drouet, the local postmaster. As the carriage drives to
Varennes, Sophie apologizes to Paine and is forced to reconcile the end of the French monarchy. The royal family are held captive where they are taken back to Paris. Louis is
publicly executed on 21 January 1793 and Marie Antoinette is
guillotined on 16 October. As Restif recollects his experiences in the 1792 book
The Nights of Paris, he walks into a modern-day, liberated France. ==Selected cast==