Plattenbau rebels

Facing poverty, Carol Drayton is prevented from suicide by Rose, a woman of the streets, who buys Carol a meal in a cafe of questionable reputation. The cafe is raided, and Carol is arrested and jailed on the false testimony of wealthy Gordon Duane. When she is released, Carol is again penniless until intoxicated Bobby Bleeker pays her to sing beneath the window of his sweetheart, Aline Sturdevant, where she is discovered by Stratini, a famous impresario. While studying with Stratini, Carol is blackmailed by the butler. Whitney Duane (Gordon's brother) falls in love with her but doubts her because of the gossip, and Carol incurs Aline's wrath by borrowing money from Bobby for Rose. Carol finally realizes her love for Stratini, who has remained loyal to her, and they are married.

After the death of his French wife, Ward tries to pick up the pieces back home in Holland. He hires Romanian worker Doru to reconstruct his house, but when Doru suddenly disappears, Ward is left with Doru's nine year old son Mihai. When Ward travels to Romania in search for Mihai's mother, he has to reconcile himself with his past and his future.

In World War II Munich, Anna works for a Nazi family as a nanny but secretly steals food and cigarettes and bring those to a Jewish family in hiding. One day, the family is discovered and only by chance can Anna save the family's only daughter, Franziska. Together they escape to Anna's native village where Anna tells everybody that Franziska is her daughter.