A schizophrenic patient is is wasting away in a mental institution, until a young doctor encourages him to write poetry. The resulting masterpieces are however not able to stop the man from suicide.

Karin is married to a pharmacist. Happy? She doesn't know herself. In any case, she is bored and feels more than restricted in her development by her dependence on her husband, who is 18 years older than her. When she meets her school friend Dr. Henrich one day, it is the impetus to free herself from the marital cage. The young, attractive hotel employee Gisa is completely different. She lives her life independently of the influences of others and enjoys her youth to the fullest. When Gisa and Karin's paths cross one day in a hotel, it has dramatic consequences.

People from all over the world spend their summer holidays at the Black Sea. German Walter and his girlfriend Gisela check in at the hotel as spouses. Walter uses the passport of his wife. The police find the body of a young woman washes up by the waves. Inspector Damyanov begins an investigation. Walter is not under suspicion, but he is ill at ease. It is because of his wife passport? Ex-Nazi officer Kunze has his own little secret and causes for worry. Dutch musician Jan has something on his conscience, too, after a little love with a Bulgarian girl. Having penetrated the unsavory secrets of all those people, Damyanov leads them to the conviction that it is difficult to live a life of deception.