Germany 1912.
Friedrich is a young man of
humble origins with a degree in chemistry employed by Karl Hoffmeister, who immediately understood the character and
potential of the young man and decided to make him his protégé. Suffering from
a serious heart disease, Hoffmeister is forced to work at home, where he lives
with his wife, Lotte, and her son Otto. Impressed by Friedrich’s zeal, he promotes him as his personal
secretary and urges him to move into his
large mansion.
Happy but confused by the feelings he starts feeling for his
master’s and benefactor’s young wife, Friedrich accepts both accommodation and
challenge, anyhow. The proximity feeds the feeling and reveals an affinity
difficult to control, at least until
Hoffmeister decides to send Friedrich to Mexico to follow a new and important
project. Lotte can’t hide her own feelings any longer, especially because the
idea of living without Friedrich is now unbearable. However the two young lovers resist their
passion and promise one to the other to wait until Friedrich is back and Lotte
free from her duties to her husband.