Francis 1950

Present-day narration at the bank

A bank manager speaks with teller Peter Stirling, who has been attracting public attention. Stirling agrees to tell his story in a flashback. The frame sets up the wartime adventures to come.

Stirling becomes a second lieutenant in Burma

Stirling serves as a second lieutenant behind Japanese lines in Burma during World War II. He is cut off and forced to improvise for survival. The danger of capture hangs over him as enemy forces close in.

Francis the talking mule appears

A talking Army mule named Francis carries Stirling to safety through dangerous terrain. The unlikely helper guides him away from traps toward safety. The bond between man and mule becomes central to Stirling's escape.

Stirling credits Francis and is hospitalized

Stirling insists that the mule rescued him, not the other way around. Because he credits Francis, he is placed in a psychiatric ward. The absurd story sparks doubt about his sanity among the medical staff.

Francis foils an enemy plan #1

Francis helps thwart an enemy plan, saving Stirling and exposing a threat behind the lines. Each time Stirling credits the mule for the rescue, he is returned to the psychiatric ward. The cycle blurs the line between belief and reality.

Francis foils an enemy plan #2

After another attempt to strike behind the front is foiled with Francis's help, Stirling is again treated as delusional and kept in the ward. The medical authorities remain suspicious of his tale.

Stirling seeks release through General Stevens

Stirling asks three-star General Stevens to order Francis to speak, hoping to prove his tale once and for all. Francis refuses to obey until it becomes clear that Stirling will be arrested for treason if he stays silent. The stakes rise as the truth is demanded by the military.

General Stevens orders Stirling's release

General Stevens is convinced by the mule's role and orders Stirling's release. He intervenes at the hospital to free Stirling and restore his credibility.

Stirling befriended by Maureen Gelder

During a hospital stay, Stirling is befriended by Maureen Gelder, a French refugee. He grows to trust her and eventually tells her about Francis. Her belief gives him hope that the truth will emerge.

Tokyo Rose casts suspicion

A Tokyo Rose radio broadcast mocks the Allies for being advised by a mule, prompting suspicion that Stirling or Gelder is a Japanese agent. The broadcast triggers intense scrutiny from the press and military investigators.

Press reveals the mule story was a trap

The press later reveals that the absurd mule story was concocted to identify the spy. The revelation fuels public and official scrutiny and shifts attention away from Stirling.

Gelder revealed as the real culprit

With Francis's help, Gelder is revealed as the real culprit. The discovery clears Stirling of treason and links Gelder to the espionage.

Francis is shipped to the U.S. for study

Francis is shipped to the United States for further study, but his transport crashes in the wilderness of Kentucky. The crash forces a grim separation, and Stirling longs to see his unlikely savior again.