A post-war flea market in Budapest: Monori, King of the market, has been very successful!. Whatever he touches turns to gold, and gold is the measure of all things. His daughter gives birth to a son and Monori pays her off in order to bring up his grandchild himself. When the child falls ill with diphtheria, it is gold, too, that saves it from ending up in the morgue.
Soon things begin to slow down in the market. It has been ordered that all gold be handed over to the government, but Monori hides his instead. When his daughter blackmails him he decides to keep the gold rather than his beloved grandchild. 1956. Bloodshed in the streets of the city. The gold must now help Monori's grandson, daughter and son-in-law to leave the country. And Monori fights his way through tank lines and skirmishes to once again prove his power...