Rostock 1982 - When the two friends Cornelis and Andreas arrive in the port of Rostock, they have only one big goal: they want to go out to sea as sailors of the GDR merchant navy into the wide world. Their goal seems within reach. Years later - The two friends are still working on land. Standstill. In order to achieve the long-awaited goal after all, Andreas persuades Cornelis to cooperate with the Stasi. They are supposed to interrogate a friend, the foreman Matze. The Stasi has learned that he has escape plans. Matze, who trusts Cornelis, innocently reveals his secret with all the details. Andreas is thrilled and convinced that this information will finally enable them to get the long-awaited job as sailors. But Cornelis backs out at the last moment. When Matze is arrested the next day while trying to escape, Cornelis knows who betrayed his friend and nothing is the same anymore...