In search of her missing husband Franz, Charlotte, now an old woman, crosses the river to the other side for the first time. There is no trace of Franz, so Charlotte has to fend for herself and become independent.

Two old men: one, a friendly, "normal" citizen, suddenly has murderous thoughts and frees himself bit by bit from annoying fellow human beings. The other is his neighbor, a retired detective who is unable to find definitive proof against the suspected murderer. As only one of them can emerge victorious from the story, they both set about the final, decisive showdown.