Centers on couple Emil, who has working-class origins and Hedi, who is an aristocrat. They have been living their lives without change and excitement in a concrete housing block for half a century. Threatened by the executors, Emil leaves his apartment one day and robs the first post office he sees. The Bloodthirsty Pensioners (as the media calls them) are on the run from the police and make up for everything that has been missing from their silent, wasted lives: shopping, dining out, jewelry--and hotels.