The story begins with the discovery of two Romanians aboard the container ship Maersk Dubai. Expecting, at worst, to be put to work, the unwanted passengers are instead set out on a flimsy raft to their almost certain doom. Aghast at the officers' decision, several crew members, including the Filipino chief bosun, Rodolfo Miguel, begin meeting in secret to plan their retaliation. The level of paranoia grows until an atmosphere of us-versus-them envelops the ship. And then, another stowaway is found.