In the year 1946 Clara (Christine Neubauer) finds herself in a desperate situation. As refugees from the southern German town of Marienbad, she and her brother-in-law Johann (Peter Weiß), together with his four children, are provided with emergency accommodation in a small village. Hunger, poverty and the villagers’ dismissive attitude to the “refugee rabble” are not their only problems. Clara’s niece, six-year-old Heidi - it was while giving birth to her that Clara's sister died - is suffering from TB, and the only penicillin available to treat her is a from the black market. And Clara, who worked as a secretary in a dairy in Marienbad before the war, can only find one job here: she has to earn her living as an unskilled farm labourer on the Braunfels Estate.
It is here that fate reunites her with the love of her life, Martin (Götz Otto). She left him seven years ago back in Marienbad, when her sister died, so that she could help look after the four little children. Martin is now working as an estate manager for the arrogant owner of the property, Andreas von Braunfels. Clara and Martin, who had been planning to get married and emigrate to Australia all those years ago, still love each other.
However, the wealthy landowner Andreas von Braunfels (August Schmölzer) also has his eye on Clara. He needs an heir, and his sickly wife Ariane (Johanna Christine Gehlen) is unable to give him one. His interest in Clara arouses the envy of the other farm girls; Clara’s friend Elsbeth (Claudia Messner) in particular begins to make life difficult for her.
The situation escalates when Clara’s hard-earned money is stolen. And now Andreas von Braunfels makes Clara an offer which could save Heidi. But at the price of losing Martin forever.