The film follows the meandering (sexual) adventures of the poet and drunk,
Charles Serking, laying bare the sleaze of life in the less reputable neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Serking's life takes a turn for the better when he meets Cass, a young
hooker with
self destructive habits. They have a stormy relationship. When Serking gets an offer from a major publishing house, Cass tries to stop him from leaving, but fails. Serking gives in to the temptation of the big bucks, but soon realizes his mistake and returns to L.A only to find that Cass has killed herself in his absence. Devastated, he hits the bottle in a nightmarish drinking bout, but finally reaches
catharsis and returns to the seaside guesthouse where he spent his happiest moments with Cass. It is here that he rekindles his poetry with the aid of a young admirer in one of Ferreri's trademark beach scenes. ==Reception==