In a restaurant, Jean-Pierre Marielle is perturbed when his order for a pot of hot water is ignored. His dining companions - André Dussollier and Jacques Villeret - try to explain that his delivery lacked force. This propels Marielle into a mid-life crisis, which leads him to harass Michel Piccoli’s wife and then get himself psychoanalysed by a man who resembles Jean Yanne.
Having been offended by Sami Frey, André Dussollier abandons the film, and is replaced by an actor who looks remarkably like Josianne Balasko.