Rudolf Höss je komandant v nemški vojski v drugi svetovni vojni. Skupaj z ženo Hedwig in otroki živi v idilični hiši, od katere je neokrnjena narava le korak oddaljena. To je popolno okolje za vzgojo otrok: tam se lahko v miru igrajo, medtem ko mati skrbi za vrt, ob koncu dneva pa se družina zbere pri večerji. Nekaj je pri Hössovih vendarle drugače. Njihovo posestvo meji na koncentracijsko taborišče Auschwitz. A to družine prav nič ne moti pri vsakodnevnih opravilih. Občasni streli, kriki in prah, ki ga prinese iz dimnikov, so samo bežna motnja v ozadju, ob kateri nihče ne trene z očesom.
Sam the white-washer pines for the affluent Lindy, but she has dumped him in favor of another. Sam finds a large sum of money, and goes to New York to enjoy a shopping spree, buying new clothes, jewelry and a car with a driver. Back home, Lindy flips for Sam and his newfound wealth, and dumps the rival. Sam throws an engagement party where he indulges in a friendly game of cards with his former rival and another man, who unbeknownst to Sam, is a card shark.
An anguished star hits his breaking point when a young journalist investigates his complicity in a scandal.