George,ascientistlivinginRotterdamisgrowingwaryoftheworldofacademia.ThesuddendeathofanoldfriendistheincentiveheneedstoreturntohisAfricanrootswherehetakesoveradilapidatedfieldstationinthejungleofEquatorialGuinea.TherehemeetsanorphanboywithasunnydispositionwhoopensGeorge'swaryeyestothiscolorfulplace.TheboyplaysmatchmakerbetweenGeorgeandtheladywhorunsthelocalorphanageandallseemsrosyuntilanoldfriendofGeorge'sshowsupoutofnowheretothrowtheirlivesintodisarrayasGeorgediscoverstherearemanyobstaclesontheroadtoredemptionandafewmorewheretheroadrunsout.