Jim, a discharged sergeant, arrives in New York to find his mother has died. Grieving, he meets Elena at a bar. She offers him a place to stay, but he's too tired to respond. The next morning, Jim's childhood dream comes true.

Carpenter Maria Abeler is supposed to take over her father's carpentry business and start a family with her longtime boyfriend Steffen, at least if Volker and Steffen have their way. When journeyman Cem turns up at the carpentry workshop, Maria decides to join Cem on a three-year journey against the wishes of her father and her boyfriend