Building construction foreman Hannes Balla - hulky and throwing around his weight - is king of the large buildingsite "Schkona". He is held in high esteem by especially his unit's men because he makes sure their pay and bonuses are paid out correctly. Things stop running so smoothly once Kati Klee, a young technician, and Werner Horrath, the new Party Secretary, arrive on the building-site. Hannes' unassailability and his reputation are at stake now because Horrath has a lot going for himself and is quite a match for Hannes. And Kati forces Hannes to lift his go-getter mask somewhat to reveal a bit of his true nature. Balla falls in love with Kati. But Horrath loves the young technician as well, despite being devoted to his wife and children waiting for him in Rostock. He cannot make up his mind and entangles himself in lies, pretending to himself he is doing this for the sake of his work. But he pays a high price for lying. This triangular relationship - among Kati, Werner and Hannes - which initially benefitted their work because it inspired Balla to take on new tasks and views, is destroyed.