Young mechanic Paul lives with his parents and works in a motor shop until dragged by a workmate to a collective meeting where, in addition to introducing himself to political-union problems, he meets the feminist Michela. She has unrealistic libertarian aspirations and has been separated for a long time from her husband Renato, largely because of his conventional and cold middle-class stance. In other words he doesn't dig her whorish ways. For Paolo,meeting with Michela also entails friendship with her husband and by virtue of her exceptional rectitude, he finds the ability to refuse the love relationship clearly offered by her. Spiritually perplexed and attracted by new political interests, he neglects his job and is dismissed.