The successful building contractor Peter enjoys the reputation that he receives through his charitable work. This behavior is rather suspicious and unpleasant for his friend Andreas who is a school principal and follows clear moral principles, yet he would never openly criticize him. One day, however, when he overhears a discussion between the entrepreneur and his housewife wife Christa, he has to rethink his attitude. The conversation turns out that Peter is misappropriating donations. When Andreas asks his friend to return the money, the latter declines - which is why he brings the matter to the public. Contrary to expectations, his wife Heike, who works as a doctor is not taken with the idea because she has been in a affair with Peter for some time and actually wants to separate from her husband.