The Munich ethics teacher Leo Andresen has moved into a new house with his wife Hannah and his nine-month-old daughter Teresa. His rector Thomas Reuter, an old friend, supports him and Leo is about to take a career leap. In fact, he should be perfectly happy. Nevertheless, he looks with a certain envy at his friend Arthur Steurer, who leads a single life without the slightest obligation, according to the motto: “relaxed in the here and now”. When the two go to a conference in Verona, where Leo is supposed to give an important lecture and convince the representative of the Ministry of Education of his qualities, there are irritations. During a sightseeing tour of the city, the beautiful tour guide Elsa makes advances to the staid family man – and he cannot escape the influence of the passionate young woman, who seems to have the independent spirit of a cat. Leo gets involved in a night of love, neglects his job and finally returns to Munich completely distraught. Though Arthur is willing to cover for him, Leo makes a confession to his wife – after all, having sex with Elsa was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. However, his attempt to communicate with Hannah fails when Elsa suddenly appears at the door. Leo’s whole existence falls into ruins. The teacher of ethics has to ask himself how his own morals are and what he actually wants: a middle-class life with a home savings contract – or the love of the “cat woman”.