Giacomo meets Giovanni, his former best friend with whom he quarreled three years before. Giovanni persuades him to go visit their third friend Aldo, who is dying in Sicily; flashbacks tell their story: Aldo was the phantom in operas, Giacomo was dubbing films in which he only made noises, and Giovanni worked as a living department-store mannequin. Unsatisfied with their careers, they try to stage their own show but women troubles separate them.

In Milan, three friends Aldo, Giovanni, and Giacomo do different jobs that are all far below their expectations and they dream of setting up a play adapted from Cyrano de Bergerac. They're joined by Marina, although the company for listing on the scene proves very complicated.