Hannes Balla is the popular foreman on a construction site. He ensures his crew is paid fairly -and on time. Things run smoothly until the day two newcomers arrive on the site: attractive young - and female - technician Kati Klee and the new party secretary Werner Horrath. Werner′s abilities and disposition threaten Hannes′ place as king of the site and shake his unassailable reputation and unshakeable confidence. At the same time, Kati convinces Hannes to let his guard down a bit and let his own personality, his real nature, come through. While all this workplace tension is building, the two men each fall in love with Kati. Werner has a wife and child in Rostock, but he remains undecided and deceives himself into believing that his actions are for his work. The lies and indecision eventually catch up to all three of them, and destroy what began as a relationship beneficial to them all.