This drama series provides a look at the world of brothels and prostitution in the late 19th century. It focuses on women who are trying to escape from servitude in a luxury brothel, the Paradis, in 1871 Paris. Vera is in her mid-thirties and knows the end of her career as a prostitute is getting close. Her hopes rest on one man, her main customer who is the only person able to pay off her debt. Young Rose heads to Paris to find her mother, a former prostitute. While there, Rose is trapped by a pimp and forced to work at the Paradis. Hortense owns the Paradise. Her goal is to keep her woman while being pressured by a thug who is demanding money from her.