Ball of Fat recap

During the Franco-Prussian War, ten travelers leave occupied Rouen in a coach. The respectable merchants, aristocrats, two nuns, and republican Cornudet initially scorn their fellow passenger Élisabeth Rousset, a sex worker called Boule de Suif, but hunger leads them to accept the meal she generously shares. At an inn controlled by the Prussians, an officer refuses to let the coach continue unless Élisabeth sleeps with him. She rejects him out of patriotism. As the delay continues, her companions become angry at the cost of her refusal and collectively pressure her, dressing their self-interest as moral and religious argument. She finally yields. Once the coach is released, the others shun her again and eat provisions they have concealed without offering her any. Hungry and humiliated after sacrificing herself for them, Élisabeth weeps while her companions ignore her.

After French forces withdraw from Rouen during the Franco-Prussian War, ten people obtain permission to leave the occupied city by coach. They include three affluent married couples, the republican Cornudet, two nuns, and Élisabeth Rousset, a sex worker nicknamed Boule de Suif. The respectable passengers treat Élisabeth with contempt until the winter journey takes far longer than expected and hunger sets in. She alone has brought a substantial basket of food, which she shares with everyone despite their hostility. At an inn in Tôtes, a Prussian officer prevents the party from continuing. His condition is that Élisabeth sleep with him. She refuses because he is an occupying enemy. The others initially praise her patriotism, but as the delay continues they resent being inconvenienced. They coordinate a campaign of persuasion, using examples of celebrated female sacrifice, appeals to religion, and claims about the common good. Élisabeth finally gives in, and the officer permits the coach to depart. Her companions then return to treating her as disreputable. They eat food they have privately packed but offer her nothing, although she fed them earlier and has had no chance to prepare. Cornudet sings a republican song while Élisabeth, hungry and humiliated, cries unnoticed beside the people whose freedom she secured.

The passengers persuade Élisabeth to submit to the Prussian officer by presenting her sacrifice as patriotic, moral, and necessary for everyone. The officer then allows the coach to leave. On the renewed journey, the other travelers immediately restore their social distance from her. Having secretly prepared food for themselves, they eat while refusing to share with Élisabeth, who had fed them during the first stage of the trip and had no time to provision herself after yielding for their sake. Cornudet whistles and sings a republican anthem as the coach moves on. Isolated among people who used her courage and generosity, Élisabeth begins to cry. No one acknowledges her tears, and the respectable passengers' relief rests upon the degradation of the person they continue to despise.