Horst Deppe and his friend Michael Böhmke discover a gap in the market and open a funeral home based on the latest American market strategies. To raise capital, Michael has approached "the ugly duckling" Christine Barnewitz, daughter of the head of the association of funeral homes. Thanks to her, business is booming, with one new branch opening a week. Counter-actions by the head of the association, Friedrich Barnewitz, are successfully fended off. Michael, who is unscheduledly in love, tries to win over Christine, whose pride has been hurt. Father Barnewitz changes his strategy and tries to win over the young entrepreneurs. Reflective frame narrative in which the bit players in the film watch their appearances on television together.
