Germany, end of the 1950s. After his business partner Kleinschmidt fled to the West, Mr. Reichert managed the company they had once founded together in East Germany alone. The company's export hit is a new type of synthetic fiber. But now the West German company, where Kleinschmidt now works, wants to cancel all orders. Kleinschmidt fears that this could be a welcome opportunity for the East German authorities to order the compulsory expropriation of his company. He wants to save the order on a trip to the West. The reunion with his old friend Kleinschmidt is overshadowed by existential fears.