Antonio and Peppino live in a small town in central Italy: Peppino is the barber, Totò is maintained by the rich but avaricious wife Teresa, who does not allow him in any way to have fun, as Antonio would like. One day Antonio and Peppino take advantage of the fact that the bandit "Il Torchio" has returned to terrorizing the country, pretending to be kidnapped by the band. The two astutely send a message with threats to Teresa, asking for money for the payment of the ransom, with which they go to spend a night of joy. Teresa, however, comes to know and is furious, and does not believe the stories of Antonio, even when he is really kidnapped by the "Torchio".