Germany, late 2011: After another severe downturn in the global economy in the fall, the country is sinking into the worst depression since the end of World War II. The social systems are also collapsing as a result of company bankruptcies and mass layoffs. Politics stands helplessly in the face of the disaster. Environmental catastrophes and climate change are causing unprecedented damage worldwide. Self-proclaimed doomsday prophets are thriving and predicting the end of the world, naming a specific date: December 21, 2012. Humanity has exactly one year left. Paul Kessler is not only in his late forties, but he also feels generally at the end of his rope. His long-time partner Mona has left him, taking only her cat Tequila with her. His job as a sports editor at a major daily newspaper is also not going well since the new editor-in-chief took office.