At the end of the 19th century, an educated white-collar worker finds himself in the employ of an inventor. As he is neither a "worker" nor an "owner," his position in the inventor's household and in the world at large is equivocal. Despite the difficulties he encounters, he tries to hold onto his job in order to support his family, but is eventually fired. This Swiss movie is based on a novel written around 1900 by Robert Walser.

Aus einer Schar Arbeitsloser sucht sich der Ingenieur und Erfinder Tobler seinen Gehülfen aus. Der grüblerische junge Mann verkümmert fortan in der düsteren Schreibstube der Toblerschen Villa