An 8-year old Portuguese child fled with her parents to France in the early seventies. But the Portuguese terror travels along with her, with an alcoholic father and unloving mother.

Mr. Beranger works at Paradesign, a furniture department store where the employees live day and night in the decorations. Himself lives in a show cottage in pasteboard and excels in the promotion of his dachshund footrest. His life seems settled well, until the day when he is promoted to the mysterious thirteenth floor of the store.