In a hospital room, the day before his death, a man of 65 tells the story of his life. Allowing himself to be carried along by his memories, he moves back and forth in time, reviving the small adventures he has had. The fact is that this man has always enjoyed watching the spectacle of the world as much as, if not more than, participating in it. But, like all people, he experienced love, power, horror, beauty, double consciousness; in short, all the ingredients of life. And not only does he tell his tale, but, with each story, he looks for some meaning for the ancient mystery of life, now that there is no time to either fool himself or change. Like someone putting together the pieces of a puzzle, he twines together the rapid course of life, the oases of reflection, the eternal bustle of characters and incidents, almost all comic, Kafkaesque, to offer a portrait of the contemporary man.