As Charade opens, we watch a train rush past the countryside of France. We then see skiers at a restaurant. As a woman, Regina "Reggie" Lampert, eats her lunch at a table in the restaurant, we watch as someone points a gun at her. Suddenly, the trigger is pulled, and she is soaked by Jean-Louis with a water gun. His mother, Sylvie, comes over, and Reggie tells her that she is planning to divorce her husband. Sylvie tries to convince Reggie to stay married so that she can keep her husband's money, but Reggie is terrified that her husband is keeping evil secrets from her.

A man, Peter Joshua, walks up to return the boy. He asks if they know one another, but she puts him off. The woman and boy leave, and Peter and Reggie begin to chat after Peter is "shot" by...