Lena loves being in the spotlight in order to hide her insecurities and doubts from herself and others. Nothing is more important to her than applause and recognition. The local amateur theater is both her path to fame as well as her lifeline.

That comes to an abrupt halt when her brother Hartmut comes to visit after his divorce. Hartmut is her mother's favorite child, the example of success, a man to adore. He is successful, but humble. He is happy that he can pursue what fulfills him; he was only able to do that after he moved abroad.

Almut drinks heavily like many people in the small godforsaken town. She is bored and her family's wealth offers her no relief. But she has a secret that helps keep her head above water.

Almut and Hartmut meet at her wealthy parents' garden party. The two hit it off instantly, and even more so when they discover their mutual love of Shakespeare. Almut tells Sabine, who is writing a new version of “Romeo and Juliet” and is directing the production, that she has found someone for the play's second main character. That doesn't suit Lena at all, because she already has the other main role and has been in her brother's shadow all her life. But Sabine is enthusiastic about the idea and determined to rewrite the piece accordingly.

Almut's father's blind butler keeps an eye on everything. When he recognises that Almut and Hartmut are a good match, he tries to play Cupid. Because of his missed shots, the local heroes fall in love with each other: Gregor with Detlev, Detlev with Benjamin, Benjamin with Hartmut and Lena with Almut. Lena stalks Almut and thinks she has discovered that a conspiracy is being hatched against her. After listening from a hiding place, Lena is convinced of the conspiracy and decides to take revenge on everyone. Her growing hatred and despair culminate in death.

A further conspiracy develops between Almut's father and his tax advisor Mr. Paris. They decide that Paris should marry Almut in order to keep the expanding company in family hands. Accordingly, Almut would become the CEO as a symbol for modernity, while Paris holds the actual power. Almut discovers the plot and decides to travel with Hartmut to his home abroad.

A double homicide gives this tragic comedy a dark but happy ending.