Duringthecoldandrainyoff-seasonamanarrivesinaseasidetownand,givinghisnameonlyasPierre,checksintotheonlyhotelwhichremainsopen.Hisarrivalarousescuriosityandadegreeofsuspicion,aspeoplenotethatheappearstoknowthearea,yetgivesnoexplanationforhispresenceatthatbleaktimeofyearinthedead-endtown.