Castellani, his wife Linda, and his friend Harvis are working together to glue together a carpet that Castellani and Harvis scavenged from the construction site they worked in. It's tiring work, but Linda takes it as a 'test' - something they have to do in order for their life to go somewhere. Castellani wanted to be an archaeologist, but realised that he could not pursue that dream and earn enough to survive. He and Linda have been married for a long time, but they aren't any closer to this dream. He finds construction work acceptable; along with Harvis, the other men engage in banter that makes the work easier. One of them, Lernic, often takes the banter too far. Harvis does not have a girlfriend, and Lernic makes jokes about compulsive masturbation and repeatedly uses slurs to imply that his lack of female companionship means he is gay. Harvis endures this verbal abuse and usually goes home with Castellani to spend time with Linda at their house. Noticing that Linda is getting emotionally exhausted, Castellani arranges for a night at a motel, hoping to have sex with her, but she is fixated on thoughts of Harvis. They watch a movie with a pornographic scene, but it does nothing; Linda very nearly breaks down, admitting that she wants to leave Castellani, or stand in the road and shout 'mean things.' They go home. Harvis comes over eventually, and they work on the carpet. Linda takes a shower and comes out in bikini-bottoms with a wet shirt that exposes the underlying shape of her body. Harvis strives to hide his erection, but Castellani is tongue-tied when Linda brazenly places her hand upon Harvis's thigh. None of them talk about it. Harvis leaves hastily, and Linda goes to another room to cry. Castellani is very much in love with his wife, and does not want to think about this incident too deeply. At work the following day, Lernic pushes Harvis too far. Harvis swings the hammer at his head and Lernic bleeds out right there. Castellani stalls the police for as long as he can; by the time they're done, he knows that Harvis will have had time to escape to Mexico. He goes home to Linda, deciding that he will let her leave him if she wants to. He feels regret for the decisions he made in life, believing that his marriage to Linda forced him to sacrifice his career. When he gets home, she is there drying her hair, and he thinks she looks as beautiful as ever.