- Marie, an independent and militant sex worker who has never needed to rely on anyone, not even to raise her son. When the latter is thrown off his post-graduate cookery course, Marie is unable to make her peace with it. Dreaming of a greater future for him, she decides to sign him up for one of the best cookery schools…
- 小贩陆云生(吕良伟 饰)常为邻里抱不平,被租界总探氏黄金荣(郑则仕 饰)妻阿桂姐(斯琴高娃 饰)所赏识。未几,陆破获宋教仁被刺案真相,令黄名声大噪。黄对陆赏识,却招侯飞妒忌。陆、黄出面调息了军阀袁啸军劫取法国鸦片事件,发了财,变为大亨。由于黄误打了督军卢永祥之子,陆又去东北军军长毕树政处求情,还搭进了名妓老六(刘嘉玲饰)…