Scotland Yard investigates a series of murders where the victims have died by snake venom poisoning.

April 1945. Because he stole two bars of chocolate, the soldier Rudi is sentenced to death by the court-martial judge Dr. Schramm. Rudi manages to escape from the firing squad at the last minute, and since the end of the war has been making a meager living as a street peddler. Years later, Dr. Schramm is now a respected public prosecutor. By chance, he runs into Rudi one day on the street. Afraid that Rudi will blow the whistle on him, Dr. Schramm wants to scare him out of town. He has Rudi arrested and bullied by the police.

Based on a book by Vicki Baum, all of the action takes place in one day in a luxury hotel in Berlin. Grusinkaya is a ballerina staying at the hotel, other guests include Baron von Gaigern a sophisticated thief, Otto Klingelein a dying man, Preysing a businessman, and a stenographer. Events intertwine the lives of these strangers, bringing them together for some dramatic moments.

Edward Collins wants nothing more than to live a modest life. But as a millionaire with a luxurious villa, chauffeur, and everything his heart desires, women are desperately after him. This time, however, Edward wants to play it safe and, together with his devoted butler, Alfons Heinz Erhardt, hatches a plan. The sweet waitress Ninette Germaine Damar, whom he meets by chance, tells Edward that he is completely penniless. Ninette promptly gets him a temporary job as a parking attendant. But that's only when the complications really begin.

Scampolo is a young, poor girl who lives on the island of Ischia. She falls in love with a young architect who hopes to win a design competition. Scampolo intecedes on his behalf with the minister and helps him to make his dream come true.

Four young German naval cadets begin their military service in 1940; only one of them will survive.