Guido, a man living alone in a dilapidated apartment on the outskirts of Rome, leads a life filled with modest struggles and unfulfilled longing. His only companion is his eccentric neighbor, an professor, who often rambles about politics while they game or chat over snooker. Recently dismissed from his job as a technician after his company declared bankruptcy, Guido takes a temporary job as a warehouse forklift operator. Unfortunately, his lack of experience results in immediate dismissal, leaving him with little choice but to spend his days at a local bar, drinking to cope with his circumstances and secretly harboring affection for the barmaid, an Albanian immigrant named Rina.
His life takes a drastic turn one night when a hired thug assaults him, demanding repayment of debts Guido owes to creditors. Troubled by the mounting financial burdens and four months behind on rent, Guido visits the credit company to seek a solution. Desperate, he offers to work for them without pay, intending to settle his debt in this way. The company’s manager, hesitant at first, pairs Guido with Franco, a seasoned debt recovery agent who works for the company.
Franco becomes Guido's mentor, introducing him to the gritty world of debt collection. Through Franco, Guido witnesses the display of cash and the manipulation tactics used to pressure debtors into paying up. Franco freely exhibits wealth, such as giving generous tips to waitresses and rewarding debtors with the cancellation of their loans in exchange for personal belongings of sentimental value. These acts, while seemingly generous, underscore the morally ambiguous methods Franco uses to maintain control and power.
As Guido begins to adopt these tactics, he experiences a renewed confidence and begins to frequent more upscale bars alongside Franco. His newfound bravado even leads him to seek revenge against his former employer at the warehouse. However, his inner conflict grows—he starts questioning the ethics of his actions, especially after Franco encourages him to physically assault a debtor, similar to an earlier attack Guido endured.
One evening, Guido invites Rina to a fancy restaurant, hoping to impress her. When dinner service is closed, Guido, emulating Franco's earlier gestures, tips a large amount to a waiter in hopes of getting food. The waiter, offended by Guido’s vulgarity, ignores him, and Rina perceives Guido's behavior as uncouth, leading her to leave in disappointment.
The situation takes a tragic turn when Guido and Franco are at a cemetery and witness a debtor commit suicide by jumping down a stairwell right in front of them. This trauma profoundly affects Guido, and he confesses his job’s dark reality to Rina, revealing the emotional toll it takes on him. Later, at the cemetery, Guido recognizes a debtor as his professor, his old friend, which shocks him deeply. He pleads with Franco to cancel the professor's debt, just as Franco had done for others, but Franco, showing no mercy, reminds Guido that forgiving debt costs him money, and they part ways in anger.
Back in the bar, Guido discovers that Rina has left the city, searching for a better life—a move that leaves Guido feeling isolated and regretful. Meanwhile, Franco seeks solace in faith, confessing his sins at a church and reciting the Pater Noster, which includes the refrain: "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." This moment highlights themes of guilt, redemption, and moral ambiguity that run throughout Guido’s tumultuous journey.
