Set in Helsinki, the story follows Lauri Haapa and Anna Kauhto as they are released from prison.

Lauri and Anna get into trouble when they can't get a job because of their past. Lauri gets fake identity papers to get into the factory. Dangerous criminal Asseri Tantere starts blackmailing Lauri under the name Pentti Tahvana, whose identity is revealed in connection with the murder of the factory's night watchman Kaaleppi.