The story is about a youth named Massimo Monaldi, who, living in Rome, is a part-time college student who has some involvement in the protests that occur at his university. Massimo is also involved with drugs and he sometimes steals to make a living and support his habit (the theft of a tobacco box is very important to the story). Among his associates are his girlfriend, Cinzia, who comes from a wealthy family, and he has a wealthy male friend named Rudy who is very naive as well as strangely pampered by his overly-doting mother. Both families don't approve of their relationship with Massimo.

Roma. Il commissario De Stefani vuole far luce su un grosso giro di droga che viene spacciata in città. Decide quindi di seguire i movimenti di uno studente, fidanzato della figlia di una ricca famiglia romana che ha appena subito un furto in casa: il commissario pensa infatti che il furto sia da collegare allo spaccio di droga. Quando è sul punto di scoprire chi c'è dietro, le cose si complicano.