Die Drei von der Müllabfuhr - Kassensturz (2020)

Werner Träsch, Ralle Schieber and Tarik Büyüktürk, the three garbage collectors, are driving their garbage truck past their favorite pub, “Zur Traube,” when Werner notices that something is wrong. The landlord, Lothar Schenker, has had a collapse. A little later, Werner learns from Lothar’s wife, Regine, that the future of their neighborhood pub is in serious trouble. They owe rent that they cannot pay, even though they have already sublet their apartment to tourists and are living in makeshift conditions in the garage. Werner is sure he has to do everything he can to save his favorite pub. He starts by collecting the outstanding amounts written on beer mats. And Regine Schenker’s wedding ring, which she had thrown into the trash, turns up again thanks to Werner and his colleagues—at least, that is what they think at first. Regine had angrily thrown it away after happening to discover that her husband had ignored the doctors’ diagnosis of heart failure and left the hospital against medical advice. Werner, who is in the process of moving in with Gabi, the owner of his favorite kiosk, asks her to talk to Regine Schenker about the debts that have piled up and help find a solution. But when he puts the Schenkers up in the new apartment without discussing it with Gabi first, it is too much for her. She makes it clear to Werner that she loves him partly because of his good heart, but that there still has to be somewhere their private life can remain private. With his colleagues’ determined help, Werner manages to collect from scrap dealer Gerd the money he has owed the Schenkers for several years. They can pay off the rent arrears, with some money left over for other outstanding payments as well. The pub also gets a modest renovation. Then, to everyone’s surprise, the Schenkers announce that they do not want to carry on; there is simply no point anymore. This is a particularly hard blow for Werner. The annual payout of the savings accounts is to be the last event at the traditional pub. On the spur of the moment, Werner donates ten percent of his savings to the Schenkers’ fund, and all the other savers join in. They also offer to run the pub for the Schenkers if they ever need a vacation. And what Werner and the other patrons had hoped for comes to pass: the Schenkers decide to carry on. Lothar has one more surprise for his wife: he had retrieved her wedding ring from the trash and now slips it back onto the delighted Regine’s finger. A performance by the long-standing band Werner is part of provides the setting for the enjoyable evening.