One of Max's best colleagues has surprisingly become a dropout, which affects Max more than he would like to admit. With his two new acquaintances, Socrates, a quirky-bearded homeless man who bathes naked in the fountain at the shopping center, and Johanna, who loves hugs and believes in the goodness of the world, he comes to the conclusion that the people of the city can only be saved by taking away their television. Max's friend with certain benefits, Izzie, does not think this plan is good at all, even though she herself does not own a television.