Partanen, a middle-aged owner of a small machine shop, is puzzled by the wants and needs of everyone around him. His new employee, a mysterious youngster who works like a robot, wants to be left alone instead of being bothered with questions like what's his name and address. The co-workers want the overproductive and antisocial guy kicked out. Partanen's wife wants a divorce, and his teenage son wants whatever it is that teenagers want. A competitor wants to buy his business. Partanen tries to understand everyone and everything, but the most difficult question remains: What does he really want from his own life?