二十世纪六十年代初的香港，刘先生（张国柱 饰）本是一名作家，但“时运不济”不得不靠撰写不入流的武侠小说、色情小说来维持生活，现实与刘先生曾经所追求的人生大相径庭。生活的不得已让刘先生沮丧，以至于日日夜夜买醉而归，试图用酒精和色情麻醉自己逃避现实……

Lau may love to indulge in a bit of alcohol and womanizing, but he's also a serious writer who's respected by his colleagues in the cultural world. However, his work is getting less and less respect from his commercial-minded editor, who forces Lau to write action-filled wuxia serials and erotic stories. After an attempt at a tasteful, cultural magazine fails, Lau succumbs to the commercial reality and writes practically anything to survive. Haunted by his memories of World War II and his professional failures, Lau falls even deeper into his addiction of drink and woman…