12 heißt: Ich liebe dich is a made-for-TV film about the consequences of having lived in the GDR. As Bettina Kramer makes call after call, it becomes clear that she is a woman with a difficult past.

Dresden, 1985: After a party at their house, Bettina and her husband are awakened by Stasi agents at the door, who arrest them.

After being separated from her husband, Bettina is questioned about her connections to West Berlin.

Jan, now an accountant, receives a letter from Bettina regarding the eight months she spent in prison in 1985.

Bettina is in poor condition due to bad conditions and constant interrogation. However, her interrogator seems to also have some empathy.

Although Bettina has yet to hear back from her former interrogator, her co-worker encourages her to persevere.

Jan's boss won't accept Bettina's vague account of what happened, and Jan has to do the interrogation over again.

Jan tries to make Bettina nervous by talking about her husband's affair, but doesn't get the reaction he hoped for.

Bettina is questioned by Jan's superior, who is not particularly patient, and learns that Jan is going away on vacation.

Jan's wife doesn't want him to meet Bettina again.