Erik, recently retired, is looking forward to some post-work adventure and to enjoy his family. These plans are thrown into doubt as the harsh reality of his wife Juditha’s accelerating illness causes his own health to deteriorate. Juditha refuses to accept any outside help as Erik buckles under the pressure.

Rainer toils by the sweat of his brow on a building site. His first job as site manager is his much-needed big break. Rising rents in the city have already forced him, his pregnant wife and 13-year-old daughter Doreen to move into a little house in the outskirts which needs renovating. At first, Doreen is not thrilled about her new life but then she meets her neighbour Mara, a girl whose parents are as rich as they are narrow-minded. Before long the new friends are playing with fire. Mara incites Doreen to play some nasty tricks and also entangles her in a theft.