Young student Steffen Berg finds it difficult to adapt to society's laws and rules. After dropping out of medical school, he starts working in a shop to support his family, together with his brother Jørgen and sister Gerda, and to keep his mother out of a nursing home. One of Steffen's friends is going to America with his wife and needs money. Steffen takes 500 kroner from the store's cash register. The next day, there is an audit and Steffen's theft is discovered.