Albert thinks that Herbert has forgotten his birthday, but Herbert has planned a whole evening with pleasant surprises for Herbert, to celebrate this occasion. But things don't turn out the way Herbert has planned them. A drink at a modern bar, a visit to the theatre and a meal at a Chinese restaurant are too sophisticated amusements for Herbert. He would prefer a hot dog and a soft porno at the local cinema.

Herbert is getting married. He and all the wedding guests are waiting in the church for the bride, who is late. Albert, who doesn't want to lose his son, starts to question the wedding, the bride and the bride's family in a loud voice. During the wedding ceremony the bride suddenly says no and runs away. As the wedding is canceled, the wedding guests now want to have their presents back.

Herbert has applied for part-ownership in a sailing-boat, which will take ten young people on a trip around the world. He is 35 years old and this will be his chance to break off from his father and experience the world on his own. As he will be away for some years, he has decided to put his father in a home for old people. When Albert hears about this, he becomes shocked, angry and depressed. When Herbert leaves him at the nursing home, Albert refuses to talk with his son anymore.

Albert and Herbert are out of money. To get some income, Albert suggests that they should let Herbert's room to some lodger. Herbert protests vehemently and threatens to move out of the house. When Albert leaves a notice about the room at an accommodation agency, Herbert slinks in and takes it away. Both of them want to finish the quarrel and forget the whole idea about the room, but none of them will lose their face in front of the other and admit their mistake.

Every summer Albert and Herbert have spent their holiday in Varberg, a seaside town not far away from Gothenburg. This summer Herbert will spend his holiday on his own. He will go to a tourist resort in the Mediterranean area, where he can meet other young people and perhaps find a girl-friend. Albert wants to spend his holiday as usual with Herbert in Varberg. He has to think out a clever way to drive this through.

Albert and Herbert play cards when two bank robbers on the run suddenly burst into the apartment. When the robbers find out that Albert and Herbert haven't got any money, food, telephone connection or car, they feel trapped and become menacing. The younger of them starts to complain about the inconvenience of being on the run with an old and slow companion. Herbert recognizes this as being the same as his own problem. Albert defends the old robber angrily, and suddenly the situation has turned into a conflict between the generations.

Albert's and Herbert's old horse Herkules drops dead when drawing the scrap-wagon along the streets. When Herbert tells the sad news to Albert, the latter falls into a depression. Albert was present when the horse was born 38 years ago and they have been together all those years. Herbert buys a new horse, but Albert won't even take a look at it. For him there can never be another horse in his life beside Herkules.

Albert happens by accident to smash Herbert's collection of porcelain. Being afraid of Herbert's reaction, Albert concocts a story about six robbers coming into the house, knocking him down and stealing the porcelain. Herbert believes him and call the police to investigate the case and catch the thieves. When the detective superintendent examines Albert about what happened, Albert has hard to keep his story coherent.