The country is hit by a wave of arson fires. Two people break into Biedermann's house, a business owner. He has recently fired one of his employees who then committed suicide over the firing. The intruders are a waiter and a former wrestler, both unemployed. A helpless Biedermann and his wife do not manage to get rid of these two men. He tries to connect with them, to get them to like him but panic and fright tighten around him. The police cannot take any action. The end is inevitable.
In the background, a chorus of firefighters is heard in a parody on the Greek Chorus which is the harbinger of inevitable fate.