Gottfried and Markus are friends who have done everything together so far: School, vocational training with A-levels, time in the army. Markus' girlfriend Karin is also adored by Gottfried. Now they are about to leave for Dresden to study physics. At the last moment, Gottfried changes his mind. He stays and wants to become a home educator after picking up a runaway boy and bringing him back. Markus terminates his friendship, his parents and colleagues are stunned. But Gottfried enthusiastically puts his intention into practice. Karin turns more and more to him, and when he loses some children on an outing, Markus helps.