The main character, Luce (a classic cirque clown), receives a letter from a long lost love and with it a train ticket. In her excitement to pack and prepare she misses her train. What follows could be considered a series of unfortunate events.
Luce, not known for her smarts, decides to steal a hot air balloon and get herself to her love. After untying it she climbs, rather clumsily, up to the basket. Seeing her in the basket as she floats away, two young men, the owners of the balloon try to bring the balloon back down by climbing the ropes.