 Like many southern Europeans of the period (1960s to early 1970s), Nino Garofalo (Nino Manfredi) is a migrant "guest worker" from Ciociaria, working as a waiter in Switzerland.He loses his work permit when he is caught urinating in public, so he begins to lead a clandestine life in Switzerland.At first he is supported by Elena, a Greek woman and political refugee.