Dries Rustenburg's sugar factory is losing money. His friend and lawyer, André Hageman, is sleeping with Dries' wife Mary and plotting against him with his rival Campers. Meanwhile, Hageman's assistant, Harm Groen, is dating Rustenburg's daughter Ellen. Mary's nephew Jan van Gorkom, who also works at the factory, feels degraded when he has to give a tour to a group of visiting students.
Before taking a skiing holiday prescribed by his doctor, Dries Rustenburg leaves Jan van Gorkom in charge of the factory and asks him to thoroughly go over the expenses once more. Jan takes the opportunity to take out secretary Jannie once he is in command. Meanwhile, André Hageman is pleading with Mary and her mother to give him say over their valuable stocks. Ellen and Harm, while out on a date, spot accountant Doornbos at the casino.
Ellen has learned that her mother is having an affair with André Hageman. When Harm doesn't share her feelings about this, she breaks up with him. Accountant Burger uncovers how Doornbos has been stealing money from the factory, and Doornbos makes a run for it. The farmers hold a conference to decide which side they will support: Rustenburg or Campers.
Dries is dismayed to find out about Doornbos' fraud and subsequent death, as well as the fact that Mary has put her trust in André Hageman. André and Harm offer Jan van Gorkum the position of factory director. Harm attempts to reconcile with Ellen. As the pieces start falling into place for Dries, and backed up by farmer Voors, he decides to fight to keep his position.
Dries Rustenburg and Farmer Voors start gathering forces and making plans to safe the factory. Voors even visits Mrs. Van Gorkom to plead their case. Having to admit his marriage to Mary is over, Dries moves into a room at 'De Posthoorn'. Meanwhile, Ellen grows closer to Voorts's son Henk and junior secretary Ditty is pregnant by Piet Stok.
The workers have occupied the factory in a bid to safeguard Dries Rustenburg's position as director. André Hageman still holds all the cards, but it is with the elder Mrs. van Gorkom with whom the final decision rests. Mary finally comes to realize Hageman has been using her. Once the dust has settled, Dries decides to take a long holiday south of the border.
With Rustenburg out of the country, Campers intends to crush the factory once and for all. Mary meets Jules Bongers, an unsavory character who claims to be a film producer. Jannie is unhappy and wants to quit her job. Jaap van Diermen, who has never gotten along with Jan van Gorkom, gets even more agitated when Van Gorkom hires a young woman, Fientje Berger, to assist Jaap in the laboratory.
Jan van Gorkom has ended up in hospital after a fistfight with Joop van Diermen. Joop decides to try his luck applying for a job at Campers factory. Meanwhile, his wife Barbara offers her apologies to Jan when Joop flatly refuses. Willem the night porter and his cat Napoleon spot an intruder in the factory. Mary has a screen test and a photo shoot for Jules Bongers. Jannie is asked to travel to Portugal to bring back Dries Rustenburg.
Jannie has found Dries Rustenburg, but he would rather have her stay with him in Portugal than return home. However, when several explosions cause the factory to catch fire, Dries has no choice but to take charge once more. Mary is unaware Jules and his partner Walter Hofman are spiking her drinks in order to take advantage of her.
Jack, the waiter at the Tamarinde Bar manages to save Mary out of the hands of Jules and Walter. After explaining their bad intentions with her, he offers her a place to lie low. Dries finds himself being berated for having an affair with his secretary, Jannie. The farmers take sides with Campers against him. Meanwhile, Jan van Gorkom is secretly seeing Barbara van Diermen.
Jules begins blackmailing Mary's mother, Mrs. van Gorkom. Both the insurance company and the bank give up on the factory, but Mr. Dommering, another rival of Campers, is willing to help. Barbara van Diermen leaves Jaap. Adjudant Kooiman, investigating the explosion, arrests Tony 'de Aal'. Walter spots Mary on the street.
Kooijman and his assistant Bakker are playing good cop/bad cop with Tonie de Aal. Dries fires Joop van Diermen and Fientje Berger for spilling information to Campers. Jan van Gorkom wants to get engaged to Barbara van Diermen. Buger asks Jannie out to lunch. Berend informs Dries about Mary's disappearance. Jules and Walter find out Mary is hiding with Jack.
Jules and Walter's attempt to intimidate Jack has gone horribly wrong. Bakker puts Tonnie de Aal's employer, Kareltje Freeke under arrest. This leads Dries to spot a connection between Freeke and Campers. Armed with this information, he confronts Campers at his home. Jannie also decides to meet Mary face to face.