NO TRAINS NO PLANES,
which is inspired by Jean-Paul Franssen's novel Broederweelde ("fraternal bliss"), tells the story of the loser Gerard (Dirk van Dijck) who comes to say goodbye to the other regulars and is set on his last day in the Café being a good one. He has brought a goodbye present for everyone. To the owner Joop (Henri Garcin) he gives his last money, which covers only some of what he still owes. The local vamp Paula (Ellen ten Damme) gets an old brooch on condition that she does it with him that day just one more time. The "intellectual" Jacques (Kees Prins) receives back the books he's lent Gerard over the course of time. Gerard makes Joop's daughter Rietje (Katja Schuurman) "happy" with a stack of old LPs. And the purblind dog-lover Benny (Peer Mascini) gets Gerard's cat. Since Gerard has no more possessions than this, the married couple Coby and Tom (Leny Breederveld and Aat Ceelen) receive only his best wishes. Unlike what he's been hoping Gerard's announced departure makes little impression, not even when he claims - to avoid saying what he's really planning - to be going to Italy for good that evening. And when Paula also rejects him in favour of the German criminal Klaus (Dominique Horwitz) who's turned up, Gerard plays his last trump card: his brother. He, indeed, is no less than the famous singer of sentimental songs Mario Russo (Gene Bervoets), who Gerard is however at loggerheads with. But thanks to his successful brother Gerard does suddenly receive the attention he wanted so much. As Mario Russo appears in the café in person, though, Gerard finally loses all control over his last day.