Umberto Ferrari, a retired government employee, attends a pensioner's protest, which is dispersed by the police. He returns to his humble room, where he lives with his dog Flick. Umberto's only friend is Maria, a pregnant servant who is uncertain about the father's identity. When his landlady demands rent, Umberto tries to raise the money by selling his belongings. After being hospitalized for a sore throat, he finds his dog missing and, after a frantic search, locates it at the city dog pound. With nowhere to live, Umberto decides to find a home for his dog before killing himself.