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Ramon tells Paul how the romance with Diana fizzled
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Paul is guest on the luxury yacht of financier Rachel Pike for a cruise around the Mediterranean, and enjoying a flirtation on board with her friend Princess Ingrid.
While the couple are having a drink after some shopping in port, they are approached by Paul's friend gigolo Ramon de Vega. After introductions are made, Ingrid goes to return a swimsuit, and Ramon explains how his union with a mutual friend never got off the ground. Now, he wants Paul to introduce him to wealthy Rachel. Paul is determined not to.
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Ramon overdoes it with Rachel
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It isn't Rachel Paul is trying to protect, but Ramon, telling his pal that he is no match for the crafty and powerful business tycoon. But eventually, Paul gives in, and brings Ramon aboard the yacht, where he has but a few hours to ingratiate himself with Rachel before the ship sails to its next cruise port.
Paul introduces the two, and Ramon immediately gushes about having long wanted to meet Rachel to the point where the financier says she'd nearly suspect him of being a gigolo. Nevertheless, she invites him to stay for lunch.
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Ramon fruitlessly turns on the charm
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After lunch Ramon sings a song, and Rachel, after remarking that it was a bit romantic for the early afternoon, gets up and goes to another deck to dictate letters.
Ramon follows her, and says the song wasn't romantic, but tragic - about a beautiful woman who gives up her afternoons to work, but try as he might to charm her, Rachel is unmoved, and goes back to her desk. Ramon remains at the railing, and Paul runs up, jestingly telling him not to jump, and Ramon confides that he's used all his best lines on Rachel without success, and only two hours remain before the vessel will sail.
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Rachel asks Paul about Ramon's property
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As the ship is about to leave, Ramon expresses flowery sentiments about hoping to meet Rachel again, and she does an about turn, and invites him to join the cruise.
That evening, the princess appears to be getting more and more interested in Paul.
And Rachel is trying to find out what's behind Ramon de Vega. She comes to Paul's stateroom, and asks about Ramon's background and how well Paul knows him, but Paul only offers evasive responses.
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Ingrid comes to tell Paul she loves him
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The following evening the princess comes to Paul's stateroom for a serious chat.
Ingrid describes the difficulty of her position in society, having to live up to traditions and regulations.
She tells Paul she's feeling real freedom for the first time in her life, and has come to the conclusion that she also has a responsibility to herself, then declares her love for him, and believes it is something lasting.
Paul is sympathetic, but obviously deeply disturbed by the sentiments expressed.
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Rachel doesn't give the check to Ramon
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After docking at Malta Ramon goes to Rachel and tells her that he must leave the cruise due to a flooding disaster on his Andorran ranch.
When she gladly offers to pay for the damages on his property, Ramon believes he's made good use of his time on board. But when she writes out a check for $30,000, it is not to him she hands it, but her personal assistant, Rudy Brademan, telling him to fly immediately to Andorra and make sure that everything is sorted out. Rachel is way ahead of Ramon, and enjoying the scene immensely.
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Ramon tries to make a deal
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Nothing Ramon can say will change her mind, and she won't allow him to go himself.
Desperate, Ramon goes to Brademan's stateroom to try and make a deal for Rachel's assistant to simply leave the ship and go nowhere, then split the money with Ramon when they dock in Athens. He explains his predicament, and suggests halving the money.
Brademan drives a hard bargain that leaves Ramon with only $12,500 of the funds he expected from Rachel.
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Paul promises the time left to them will be wonderful
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After Paul phones a diplomat friend,in a delegation of men from her country come on board to see Ingrid. When Paul goes to see her the next day, Ingrid doesn't answer his knock on her door, and Rachel tells him that she hasn't responded to her either. The princess approaches him later in the day and apologizes. She explains that, though she loves him, obligations to her country take precedence in her life. Paul says that he understands that when the cruise ended she wouldn't be able to escape her life, but promises to make the time they have left together extremely special.
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Rachel says Ramon was only worth $2,500
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When they dock in Athens, Brademan doesn't keep his appointment with Ramon, so the gigolo returns to Rachel who says that they said their farewells the previous night, and she'll be spending the next two weeks working on board. She also tells him that Brademan, who's been with her 14 years, is on business in Paris. She feels $12,500 was too high a price to pay for Ramon's company, and gives him $2,500 to launch his next project. Ramon responds that while he appreciates that she doesn't like being overcharged, he doesn't wish to be underpaid, and gives the envelope back to her.
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