Con man Aldo breaks out of jail and seizes a car at gunpoint, taking its passengers—bumbling police officer Giacomo and nitpicking civilian Giovanni—hostages. An unlikely friendship blossoms.

Aspiring thespians Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo work dead-end jobs while nurturing their dream production of Cyrano de Bergerac, until love for the same woman tears their friendship apart. Three years later, Giovanni and Giacomo reunite after learning that Aldo is dying.