In Lausanne, Léon is involved by accident with a small Leninist group and gets to know Léa, a dedicated activist and the group leader's mistress. The police keep a close watch on them and trouble is bound to follow.

George is a middle-aged man who lives with his disabled wife. He faces dire financial straits after an investment firm wipes out his life savings and forces him into early retirement. Consequently, he becomes increasingly disillusioned and desperate, which ultimately drives him to the brink of insanity.

Fred, a raffish safe blower, takes refuge in the Paris Metro after being chased by the henchmen of a shady businessman from whom he has just stolen some documents. While hiding out in the back rooms and conduits of the Metro, Fred encounters a subterranean society of eccentric characters and petty criminals.

Following a bet, Simon has no choice but to participate in the Morat-Fribourg race. The preparation and the race itself reveal painful memories that have been buried for far too long.

Alexandra is a department store thief; she steals out of necessity and for fun. Jean buys and sells stocks; he works on the stock exchange. Since his wife left him, Jean has been adrift. They set off together and are now both drifting towards England. In Jean's convertible and thanks to his money, they go from hotel to hotel, from one crazy adventure to the next. From Geneva to Penzance, Alex and Jean live life to the fullest, laughing loudly...

Interspersed with jokes, visual puns, and philosophical discussions, the story follows the attempts of a girl who has spent the last year living outside her native Switzerland to rekindle a former love affair. When her immature young friend fails to demonstrate the requisite interest, she takes up with someone the boy disapproves of. When the boy kicks the man, the man leaves both the boy and his erstwhile ex-girlfriend to their own devices.