Gottfried and Markus are friends who have done everything together so far: school, vocational training with high school diploma, time in the army. Markus' girlfriend Karin is also admired by Gottfried. Now they are about to leave for Dresden to study physics. Gottfried decides differently at the last moment. He stays, wants to become a home educator after picking up and bringing back a runaway boy. Markus breaks his friendship, parents and colleagues are stunned.