In a small European town, a timid clerk named Kleinman is awoken in the middle of the night by a vigilante mob seeking to capture a strangler who has been terrorizing the area. Kleinman, who is confused and apprehensive, is told to join the search despite not knowing his role or how he can help. As he wanders the foggy streets, he encounters an array of eccentric characters, including circus performers and townspeople, each with their own anxieties and agendas, which further clouds Kleinman's understanding of the situation.

Concurrently, Irmy, a sword swallower from the circus, has a falling out with her partner and leaves the circus. She crosses paths with Kleinman and becomes another lost soul in the mist-filled night. Their interactions reveal deeper fears and existential quandaries, blending elements of humor and drama. Kleinman's nocturnal odyssey through the shadowy alleys indirectly sheds light on the various facets of human nature, leading up to increasingly tense encounters as the town's anxiety over the strangler reaches a climax.