Charles Metairie Allemand is a Shipbreaker and the divorced father of one son. He arrives at a small island town just off the coast of Liberia owned by his employer, a Fortune 500 company The town’s shipyard is no longer profitable, and Charles must get the permission of Robert N’mburo, a local chieftain, to shut it down.  Charles waits in the airport for Mr. N’mburo when a skinny young man appears. His name is Sammy and he claims to be in charge of bringing Charles to Mr. N’mburo. Sammy takes Charles to the shore and they watch a ship dock. Charles has an extreme fear of an ocean-related death, and boarding the ship reminds him that nobody, not even his family, knows where he currently is. Onboard, Charles cannot help but admire the structure.  This is when Mr. N’mburo appears. Charles is shocked to discover that Robert N’mburo is, or rather was, an American. He, too, once worked for Corporate America, and travelled to deliver life-altering news to impoverished communities, only to fly back and live a privileged life in the states. However, he changed sides, and now is urging Charles to do the same.  When Charles refuses to leave without Mr. N’mburo’s signature, he realizes that his life is on the line. In a final plea for his life, Charles offers to save Sammy. He promises to bring Sammy to America and look after him until he is of age. This trade saves his life.