Three years have passed since Elling moved to town with Kjell Bjarne, his roommate from the institution at Brøynes. Elling now lives on his own in the apartment. Kjell Bjarne has moved up one floor, to Reidun and her little daughter Mojo. Feeling like an outsider, Elling isolates himself more and more. He observes humanity with astonishment and wonders at how everyone else seems to be adjusting so well.
Finally, Kjell Bjarne takes care of the situation. Elling protests, but he is still pretty happy as he is transformed into a new man: clean, fully rested, and well-dressed. Deep inside, he also knows what's lacking, and one evening he finally finds the woman he knows is able to fill the void in his life. He's willing to do anything to win her trust and love.
But when he is invited to his new girlfriend's for dinner, a few objections appear to Elling, and the story doesn't end quite the way he had thought it would.