A penniless photographer accidentally comes into his grandfather's huge, well-hidden inheritance. Piece by piece, he delves into a network of real estate, stocks, and money—with traces leading back to the mysterious "sale" of the GDR. The basis for this: the "hush money" of West German straw men. Who was involved at the time? The USA? Gorbachev? German politicians? Supported by Holger the carpenter, both find themselves in the crosshairs of powerful opponents. Threats, kidnapping – and a relationship that threatens to break under the pressure.