A horse trader from Berlin, once a farmer in Southwest Africa, manages to drive his children out of the house and anger his wife. After serious complications with his heart, which he tried to hide at first, he realizes how much he needs the love and support of his family. The oldest son returns from Argentina and proves his abilities.

For the old privy Frau Butow, the green salon in her comfortable Berlin apartment is both an untouchable relic from the past as well as a refuge from the cares of everyday life. Enthroned in her salon, she wishes to neither hear not see the changes the world is going through and the problems these changes are bringing about. Frau Butow lives in an illusory world, in which problems aren't allowed. Thus, she knows nothing of the problems of her children and grandchildren; nor her son's business problems; nor even the health problems of her daughter. Only granddaughter Sabine doesn't want to come to terms with the unworldly attitude of her grandmother. So she tells her about her love for the architectural student Wolf, who has to earn his money as a bricklayer. The old woman is horrifeid and doesn't want to hear anymore! But Sabine won't shut her mouth.

The successful shipowner Georg Behrendsen and his wife Irene are coming from South America to Germany for business. While negotiating in the home of senator Kersten, the senator's son Wilhelm (Werner Fuetterer) is taking care of Irene Behrendsen. The two fall in love with each other and decide to marry after Irene's divorce from her husband. But the old senator forces his son to decide whether to marry Irene or to become head of the shipping company. Not to break the family tradition, Wilhelm decides against the marriage. Irene, full of hatred against the senator, goes back to her husband. 25 years later. The senator is still head of the shipping company, because Wilhelm was killed in the war. He concentrates his love now on his daughter Victoria and he can't refuse any wish of her. Some day she tells him that she has been falling in love with a young german guy from overseas called Peter Behrendsen, not knowing that he is the son of the women who hates the senator the most.