Eckart is a young German spending his conscription army time doing social work at a workshop for handicapped people instead of army service. Here he meets Ulrike, who is thought to be a hopeless case. Due to his intense devotion to her, she improves amazingly. Eckart wins Ulrike's affection, and her love. To what possible end though? A new co-worker turns up/ and Eckart hopes she might be the answer to his problems. But things take a turn for the worse. When, on a recreational holiday, Ulrike is found in Eckart's bed, everything comes to an end. Ulrike is expel1ed and Eckart quits his job.