1900: Much to the chagrin of Baron Uhlendorff in Schoneberg, the city of Berlin is expanding. But what is much worse is that his son George is in love with Traute, the daughter of the master carpenter Schradecke. So the son must leave for South America as a diplomat and Father Schradecke has to intercept his letters to his daughter. Traute is inconsolable; 1913: The early days of the small artisans have now given way to them becoming big businessmen. Traute continues to wait for George in spite of the stubborn proposing by the carpenter Paul Buttner.