7th September 1943. The honest and reliable carabiniere Umberto is sent to escort the flamboyant con man Raoul Nuvolini from Terni to Venice. Umberto's fiancée Luisa follows him against his will. Soon their train breaks and the have to find a way to carry on towards Venice. While they are ponderously traveling through Italy the new Italian government sign the armistice with the Allies: everything will change in Italy, also for our three travelers.