A nebbish waiter at a beatnik cafe longs to fit in with the artistic patrons but he lacks the skills or personality. When he accidentally kills his landlady's cat and covers the body in plaster to hide his mistake, the result makes him a successful artist and part of the cafe group. Lacking the skills to make true artistic pieces, the waiter continues his methods when branching into human forms. He is being sought by two men to bring him back. There are underlying messages on race, slavery, attitudes and perception.