HERMANN WIEGAND (70), renowned economist and professor at the University of Bonn, is found dead at his home one morning by his girlfriend ANNETTE (62). His heart seems to have given way, completely out of the blue. Annette does not want to tell the sad news to their closest friends, JOACHIM (70), ELLA (66) and FRIEDRICH (68), who have all been part of their inseparable gang for centuries. Later that day, the four sit in the bedroom of their villa in Bonn and mourn their friend. Joachim realizes that this year's Nobel Prize in economics will be announced in just five days. Hermann has been a serious candidate for the prize for years thanks to his groundbreaking research in business psychology.