The drama tells of the fatal encounter of two loners.

Joshua is at the beginning of his studies of history and philosophy in Heidelberg. An introverted, slightly cynical loner, not directly unpopular, but because of his shyness and bad experiences very shy of contact and very solitary. This changes when Joshua meets fellow student Murlow, who shares his loner mentality in all its features. However, their expectations of their new friendship are different. Joshua sees it as a coincidence, Murlow as a weapon. His mindset is already much more nihilistic than Joshua's. To him, other fellow students are merely childish morons and scum on whom one should not waste time.
Meanwhile, strange pranks are taking place at the university: Clown dolls are strung up on ropes like hanged men, and a manikin exhibition is disfigured into a macabre spectacle signed "Mononoke."
When Joshua falls in love with fellow student Mila, the difference between Joshua and Murlow escalates. Murlow is incensed and wants to take away Joshua's naive hope - and seduces him into a world of contempt and disgust. The world of Mononoke.