The police pick up a seemingly neglected man who has no identification papers, who cannot speak, and who appears to have lost his memory.

Examinations by doctors and the police both fail to throw any light on his origin and the reasons for his inability to speak. Further attempts at establishing the identity of this modern Kaspar Hauser are made in a psychiatric clinic.

The mysterious man is examined, tested, observed, suspected, and treated with drugs. Everyone wants to help him, everyone hopes to be the first to make him speak and get to the bottom of his secret. But if his professional helpers do succeed in helping him, will he really be any better off?