Hans brings terrible news to Dunja, and she drowns her sorrows in alcohol. Falk, under pressure at work, tries to convince Vera to work as a Stasi informer. Meanwhile, Martin gives a moving speech at a funeral.
A routine traffic stop changes the lives of young police officer Martin Kupfer and Julia Hausmann, the daughter of a dissident singer. This chance meeting irrevocably alters the destiny of both their families.
East Berlin, 1987. Martin has abandoned the Kupfer family and is working as a carpenter. Julia is serving a lengthy sentence in Hoheneck Prison - she and Martin have had no contact for years. Meanwhile, Falk and Vera receive terrible news about their son.
Hans discovers that someone at the Ministry for State Security was involved in Anna's disappearance, but doesn't know how to break the news to Martin. Dunja Hausmann joins the freedom protests, and Vera makes a fateful decision.
Tensions between Falk and Martin reach a breaking point as Martin refuses to take part in a raid on an illegal rock concert. Marlene confronts Hans over the issue of Dunja Hausmann.
As the family waits for the results of Roman's operation, Julia is released from prison - but she refuses to see Martin. Vera, her marriage to Falk on the rocks, makes the acquaintance of a local pastor whose church is under Stasi surveillance.
Fearing that his son Martin is endangering the family's standing, Hans forbids him all contact with Julia. Despite immense pressure from both families, the love between Julia and Martin grows deeper.
As Falk pressures Dunja into cooperating with the Stasi, Hans secretly intervenes on Martin's behalf. Meanwhile, Julia hatches a plan to make contact with a West German journalist.
Julia tries to convince Martin that their daughter is still alive. Falk suspects Vera is lying to him and comes up with a plan to save their marriage. Hans increasingly feels the discrepancy between socialism's ideals and the Stasi's methods.
Hans attempts to sabotage Martin and Julia's plans to move in together. At the same time, Falk convinces Martin's ex-wife to apply pressure in an effort to keep him from seeing Julia - but his plan backfires.
Hans and Falk clash over the fate of Dunja Hausmann, who suspects Julia of leaking information to the Stasi. Encouraged by his mother, Falk sets up a sting operation which leads to tragic consequences.
Martin identifies the doctor who issued his daughter's death certificate. Hans is recalled to his old position at the Ministry for State Security. Falk uses Vera's inside information to organize a raid on the environmental activists in the church hall.