Andrea, a policewoman in a rural area, has resolved to move on from her unhappy marriage with the help of a transfer to St. Pölten, where she will take up a new position as a CID inspector. As she drives home after a birthday party she has no chance of stopping when her not-yet-divorced husband suddenly appears in front of her, drunk. In a state of shock, Andrea flees the scene... only to discover to her horror the following day that someone else has accepted responsibility: Franz, who teaches religion at a local school and is a recovering alcoholic. He is convinced that he ran over the victim, and so is everyone else in the village. While Franz starts drinking again, staggering steadily towards utter ruin, Andrea applies herself to the task of eliminating all traces of her guilt.