In 1970, an alcoholic night watchman named Fritz 'Fiete' Honka commits a heinous crime by murdering Gertraud Bräuer, a prostitute, in his dilapidated apartment in Hamburg. In a disturbing act, he dismembers her body, disposing of some parts in a suitcase while hiding others within an improvised compartment in his wall. Despite the suitcase being discovered by the police, they are unable to ascertain the identity of the murderer.
Fast forward to 1974, Fritz spots a young schoolgirl named Petra Schulz while she’s hanging out with her classmate Willi. This brief encounter sparks a troubling fixation, as Petra becomes a constant figure in Fritz's twisted sexual fantasies. Fritz is a regular at The Golden Glove pub, where he frequently attempts to solicit the company of prostitutes, only to be met with disgust. One fateful evening, he brings home Gerda Voss, a homeless woman. Their arrangement begins with a stipulation for sex, but soon this evolves into a more twisted relationship where Fritz offers Gerda a place to stay in exchange for sex, housework, and a promise to introduce him to her alluring daughter, Rosi.
After an awkward lunch with his recently divorced brother Siggi, Fritz and Gerda venture out to meet Rosi. However, Gerda reveals that she and Rosi are completely estranged, leading to Fritz's furious outburst. In his fit of rage, he shatters a glass, injuring himself. While tending to his wounds in the bathroom, an evangelist approaches Gerda, offering her rehabilitation, which she eagerly accepts. With Gerda gone, Fritz turns his attention to three intoxicated women at the pub: Inge, Herta, and Anna. As chaos erupts in the establishment, the women accompany him home, but the night takes a dark turn when a trapped Inge manages to escape his advances while Anna tragically does not, ending up brutally killed and dismembered.
The next day, while still reeling from his drunken escapades, Fritz survives a van accident. With a newfound resolve, he decides to quit drinking and takes up a job as a watchman at an office building, where he becomes infatuated with cleaner Helga Denningsen. However, the illusion is shattered when he discovers that Helga is married to a man named Erich, who is unemployed and relies completely on her. After sharing a few drinks, Fritz, overwhelmed by his desires, attempts to assault Helga during their next meeting, but she manages to escape.
Returning to his old haunts at the pub, Fritz embarks on a new perilous interaction with another prostitute named Frida. Their sexual encounter takes a violent turn when Frida mocks him for his impotence, leading to a brutal confrontation where she is also strangled and dismembered by Fritz. This cycle of violence continues as he subsequently lures Ruth to his home, where she meets the same grim fate.
In a series of events that culminates in chaos, Willi convinces Petra to visit The Golden Glove with him. An embarrassing incident involving an older man prompts Willi to lock himself in a stall, leaving Petra to fend for herself. This act catches Fritz's attention, leading him to follow Petra, only to come upon the shocking scene of his apartment engulfed in flames. Firefighters uncover the truth as they discover the corpses within, and Fritz is swiftly apprehended.
