Amid an escalating feud in a rural Taiwanese village, a boy struggles to protect his secret friendship with his Singapore-raised best friend as adult conflicts threaten to tear them apart, while he quietly begins to question the true nature of his feelings for his friend.

In the village, the boy offers help but is turned down by everyone. Later his friend asks him to help on their fish farm and take the motor to the neighbouring village afterwards. But he loses the key and is determined to find it although the tide is coming in.