Kathrin and Wolfgang are not exactly blessed with riches, but they love each other more than anything, and that (still) outweighs their financial worries. When Wolfgang fails his architecture exams, Kathrin looks for a job as a secretary to support her family. However, Kathrin has to pretend to her new boss, Director Wilkens, that she is single. Meanwhile, Wolfgang is working as a househusband, with neighbor Uschi gladly supporting him. One day, Kathrin has to accompany her boss on a trip, during which he gives her all kinds of compliments and presents. Meanwhile, Wolfgang is celebrating his second wedding anniversary alone at home when Uschi suddenly appears at the door. A misunderstanding leads to a telephone argument between Kathrin and Wolfgang, which turns into grounds for divorce when she returns home. But then everything turns out quite differently.

A novelty in German post-war history: a young woman becomes mayor in a village. She is efficient and enjoys respect, but soon enough two villagers disagree with her work. In her predecessor, a prominent farmer, she has a bitter enemy. But even her boyhood friend, who wants to marry her as he returns home from captivity, can not accept that his future wife holds such an office.

A theater competition breaks out on the occasion of the four-year anniversary celebrations at the Hennigsberg power plant. The old hands want to perform the kitschy musical comedy "Gärtnerliesl". The youngsters are against it and are planning their own program with which they want to skewer events from the plant in a cabaret style. But first, everyone has to work together on a turbine breakdown. On the day of the festival, the "Gärtnerliesl" fails with timpani and trumpets, while the youth's program is met with great applause, which the rivals join in with.

The time from 1895 to 1945, the Berlin of Zille and Otto Reutter, Claire Waldoff, the imperial parades and marches under the Brandenburg Gate; the two world wars, the lavish premieres in the Apollo Theatre and small, intimate rounds in the country.

Berlin, early post-war period. Several friends meet every Wednesday evening to escape the gray monotony of the city and their lives. They are a diverse group of characters with very different destinies. There is, for example, young Grita, who is gradually beginning to separate from her husband Georg because he is becoming increasingly addicted to gambling. She finds new love with the engineer Erik. But the young refugee girl Henny has also fallen in love with the handsome engineer.

Dr. Blum, a Jewish manufacturer, is falsely accused of a murder. Even when the real killer’s identity becomes evident, the state prosecutor refuses to accept Blum’s innocence.

A completely new life begins for railroad employee Werner Nordhaus when he meets the fascinating variety theater director Karena Rodde. She discovers that Werner is a great dancing talent and is determined to win him over for her theater. Karena wants Werner to give up his life as a train driver and start training as an artist for her in Hamburg - a decision that would turn his life upside down...