The Toilers and the Wayfarers

During a playful moment, Phillip kisses Dieter. Dieter is disgusted and runs away, ending their brief tenderness. Phillip leaves town heartbroken, realizing his feelings may never be returned.

Dieter befriends Udo, who moves in with his Aunt Anna and is known for eating tacos and shirking responsibilities. The two boys bond despite Dieter's worried parents. Their friendship sets the stage for future adventures.

Aunt Anna dies, leaving Udo with money from the inheritance. The windfalls allow Udo to buy a stolen car and dream of taking Dieter on a trip. This moment shifts the dynamics of their relationship.

With the money, Udo buys a stolen car and wants to take Dieter away. Dieter's father intervenes, forbidding the trip and punishing Dieter with a spanking. The threat of separation strains their growing bond.

Dieter hides at Udo's house to escape his conservative family. The boys feel a mix of fear and freedom as they dream of the open road. This quiet moment foreshadows their big-city journey.

They head toward the big city, but police notice their car and pursue them on foot. To stay under the radar, they decide to speak only English. The journey marks a break from their small-town constraints.

In the city, the boys acquire another cheap car, which soon breaks down. A mechanic who speaks German takes an immediate liking to them and offers help. He embodies the human bridge between cultures the boys crave.

Dieter finds Phillip in a cafe and feels the old flame rekindle. Phillip introduces him to the perks of city life and his own precarious income. He reveals that Phillip prostitutes himself to survive and suggests Dieter could stay with him.

Phillip is sick and Dieter ends up on the street looking for clients. A plainclothes officer offers money for services and arrests him. A police lieutenant contacts Dieter's parents, who refuse to take him home.

Dieter uses a phone call to warn Udo to leave the city before the police locate their address. The mechanic and his wife provide a temporary safe haven for Udo as the net tightens.

Dieter tricks the officers and escapes. He returns to Phillip and the two embrace, choosing each other as they share a night together.

Dieter leaves Phillip, who remains ill, and flees to New York to start anew. The decision marks a turning point toward potential independence.

While waiting for his train, Dieter meets a stranger who urges him to return to his homeland. The encounter casts doubt on his plans and hints at a possible return home.