Tomas and his friends are happy in their town and school but must face the fact that some of the adults around are preparing to leave GDR and move to West Germany.

The country estate of Count Claudieuse is located near Paris. One night in 1871, it goes up in flames. Two shots are fired, the count is critically injured, and the countess and her children escape the flames with the help of the feeble-minded Cocoleu. Cocoleu accuses Jacques von Beaucoran from the neighboring estate of being the perpetrator. Jacques protests his innocence.

Fictionalized documentary about the first man killed at the border between East and West Germany.

At the center of the story are building contractor Patschold, who juggles advances and loans, and his shrewd chauffeur Göhrke. Patschold's wife almost suffers a nervous breakdown and his mistress makes ever greater demands.