Nothing is going well in Joseph's life. His marriage to Marie is running out of steam: it is obvious that he is no longer attracted to his wife who is in despair. At work, it's not better. Oppressed by a tyrannical boss, Joseph spends his days in front of his computer, alone and jaded, selling labels. The only person who seems to want to bond with him is Jacques, the company computer scientist, a clumsy nerd who is harassed by his colleagues. But one evening, after having received a couple of friends at their home, Joseph suddenly had a severe stomach ache.