Widower vet Sebastian Brunnen leaves metropolitan Berlin to take over a retiring vet's rural practice in a Mosel small-town, hoping for a new start and closer relationship with brat daughter Kira, who makes only one school-friend, academically less gifted Vito, who gets no support at home, by commandeering bike rides 'paid for' with tutoring, but he duly resents cheating. Sebastian finds the locals most suspicious of a city doc, except stud farm owners Katherina Mohr and her aunt Magda, whose prize horse must sadly be put down due to an incurable infection. Dictrict vet Dr. Gebhard suspends Sebastian for not ordering all horses put down, as he rules. This makes Brunnen ingrate Katherina's last hope, while mayor Daniel Heim, her fiance after she left two at the alter, won't risk compromising the impending touristic festival. Sebastian and Katherina get romantically involved, 'neglected' Kira runs away.