The worker Frank Raban lives with his wife and young daughter in a room in his mother's apartment. He builds his own home and sometimes procures materials illegally. When an after-work bricklayer wants to be paid in forum checks, Frank strikes outraged and ends up in front of the public prosecutor. His brigade vouches for him. His two West Berlin brothers Markus and Olaf help him out with money, but the price is high. Markus runs an antiques business - with stolen art treasures from the GDR. He uses the family ties to the East for his burglaries. When a museum guard is murdered by Markus and Olaf, Frank tells his wife everything. She tries to convince him to turn himself in to the police.