Claude is a difficult guy to like. He’s hypercritical of everything and everybody. This young Frenchman has a special dislike for American tourists, as many people do. He frequently flips U.S. visitors a one-fingered salute that’s recognized throughout western civilization.

You’d think Claude would avoid things he doesn’t like. But here he is on a Saturday afternoon in the spring, walking along the Champs Elysées. Many, many American tourists are enjoying the world’s most famous boulevard. Claude, only a tiny part of the passing parade, waves his familiar salute at Americans while muttering French sounds that translate into something very uncomplimentary.

It’s easy to tell the Americans from the French. The Americans are the ones colorfully dressed (sometimes garishly) in a wide assortment of colors, and wearing white athletic shoes. The French, of course, are wearing basic black. That’s what we’re told - to be fashionable in France, one must wear black.

Claude follows the crowd up the avenue to the Arc de Triomphe, the world-famous memorial built under Napolean’s command to honor fallen French soldiers from all wars.

Near the base of the famous Arc de Triomphe is the Eternal Flame which has continuously burned since 1921, also honoring France’s war dead.

As a show of disapproval for all things military, Claude decides to extinguish this flame which has burned for some 80 years. As a personal expression of disdain, he sits down in the center of the dish, hoping to snuff out the flame. But remember, this is the "Eternal Flame," so it continues to burn even as Claude plops himself down.

Gendarmes quickly rescue Claude from the flame and arrest him - but before they take him to jail they must first make a detour to a local hospital where Claude gets treated for some very painful burns on his French behind.