Berlin's Haussmann Street has been the home of 70-year-old antiquarian bookseller Peter Jordan for many years now. But it's changed over the years, and now it's a problem area full of homeless people, socially deprived families and angry, jobless kids. Peter, who both lives and works behind barred windows, pays little attention to the world around him. Until the day he sees a youth beating a homeless man senseless. After hesitating, Peter intervenes and recognizes the youth's girlfriend as Jessica, a 15-year-old who's doing an apprenticeship at his shop. At the police station, Peter quickly identifies the boy: a young Kosovar whose parents were killed in the war and whose older brother Dalmat looks after him. The two brothers use violence to force Peter into withdrawing his accusation. Jessica, who's taken a liking to the crusty old Peter, warns him to stay clear of Dalmat. Even Peter's liberal-minded friends don't want to have anything to do with him after they're assaulted by Dalmat. But when the violent young man threatens to harm Peter's little granddaughter, Peter is forced to rethink the consequences of his civil courage...