Anna & Marina are in love and decide they want a baby. Stefano & Tony are their best friends. When the ladies have an argument over who will carry the baby, the guys are caught in the middle. Stefano suggests that Marina sleep with a man, but she angrily dismisses it and disappears. Stefano then goes to extreme measures to raise the money for artificial insemination in hopes of repairing the friendship. The arguments and quarrels lead them to the hospital, where they realize their own mistakes and face the consequences of their behavior.

Set in Genoa, the film concerns the financial struggles and emotional strain that occur after Michele loses his job. He and his wife Elsa are forced to give up their affluent lifestyle and cope with the tensions of moving into a smaller home, finding new work, and making sacrifices.