 In the winter of Chile, the government allows for a short period the harvesting of the valuable and aphrodisiac shellfish "el loco". Along these days, the seaside village of Puerto Gala lodges fishermen and prostitutes, all of them expecting to make money. The crook Canuto (Emilio Bardi), who loves the owner of a local bar Sonia (Loreto Moya), convinces his friend Jorge (Luis Dobó), the priest Luis (Luis Margani) and the whole community to sell the production to a Japanese agent. After the selling, people disclose a secret with tragic consequences.