Broke, and armed only with his sense of humor, middle-aged Gianni lives with his mother in their old apartment. The debts are mounting, but if Gianni looks after the building manager's mother during the Ferragosto, a mid-August holiday, all will be forgiven.

The Tuscan Giuseppe, after a lifetime spent working in a company in Biella, reaches the well-deserved retirement; but soon he is forced to confront the boredom of retired life.