Faded punker Otto gets a gig in Haugesund, and gets his dads old Opel Diplomat from the scrap yard. In Telemark, however, he makes a wrong turn and meets Farida Svalastog, who makes a living finding Americans' Norwegian roots (or those who pretend to be). Then strange things start to happen, and Otto gets stuck on the labyrinthine roads of Telemark. Among other things, he is chased by amcar enthusiasts who are looking for the engine of the Opel Diplomat, which houses a highly sought after Chevrolet V8.

Following political upheaval, traditionally poor countries have stopped exporting raw materials. The Western world is entering an economic crisis, which is rapidly spreading to Norway. Unemployment rises sharply, and it becomes more difficult to obtain food. The government does not officially acknowledge the crisis, but fear spreads among the population. Demonstrations between the population and the police are now a daily occurrence. Thomas and Vera are also unemployed. The only way out of their predicament is to move out of the city and rent an abandoned farm. The sale of food is banned. Military forces arrive to confiscate what little they have. Later, the city population follows, traveling to the countryside in panic to secure something to eat.