In a shabby residence on the coast between Livorno and Pisa, Mario, known as "Il Cormorano", a grumpy and disillusioned young man, works as a plumber to scrape together the sum necessary to realize his dream. He wants to join his uncle Piero in America to become an underground musician. His story is intertwined with that of Nevio, the cynical manager of the residence, of Gabriella, his naive and dreamy lover and of the maid Gaia who behind has a past as a drug addict, with whom Mario has a relationship of hate love. But reality is not as rosy as dreams:

Mario è un giovane scontroso che lavora come idraulico alle dipendenze di Nevio che dirotta la sua amante Gabriella alla direzione del suo residence. Mario sogna di fuggire dalla piccola città di provincia in cui vive e di raggiungere uno zio che vive in America. Ma intanto trascorre le sue giornate in una colonia di personaggi surreali, innamorato perso di Gaia, una cameriera del residence.