In the suburbs of a large north Italian city, Pino and Nunzio, two Sicilian emigrants, share an apartment. Although they are friends, relations between the two men have deteriorated to the degree that they hardly speak. The reason for this is that Pino has got tired of Nunzio's repetitive and paradoxical questions. Nunzio works in a paint factory and his health suffers as a consequence. Pino's source of gainful employment is more of a mystery since he often travels on the orders of a disreputable fish vendor.