Roman has just taken up a position as a draftsman at an architect’s office in Cologne and is about to experience his first savage Shrove Tuesday carnival. Although reserved, he decides to go to the party thrown by his colleagues. After a few beers, he begins to loosen up and even starts flirting with an attractive woman on the dance floor. But when he steps out for a breath of fresh air, his carnival ends in a tragedy. Roman is involved in a quarrel between an underage pickpocket and his two victims. He helps the men catch the thief, only to end up witnessing in awe the angry men brutally beat up the kid.