In a not-too-distant past or present, three unemployed slackers find themselves embroiled in an unusual dispute with new neighbors: Carole and her weeping mother. When the shabby Carlisle intervenes in their lives, he incurs the wrath of their landlord - the silent, grinning embodiment of evil, Mr. Stapleton - and his mute minion son, Craig. As Mr. Stapleton's malign influence spreads to his housemates and Carole's house is besieged by cherubim cowboys carrying psychic TV sets, Carlisle takes the fight to his enemy and realizes he must sacrifice his life to save the world.