Three old friends living in distant cities decide to help each other get rid of people who stand in their way to achieve happiness.

In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.

Peter and Bozena are studying medicine, they love each other and want to be together. The girl, after a dramatic experience, breaks off contact with her parents and moves out. With the help of a friend, the young couple manages to rent a small apartment. However, their life is not going well. Peter begins to cheat on Bozena. Accidentally met Joe slips the girl a drug. One time was enough for Bozena to go in search of an illusory land of happiness - Alabama, which does not exist. However, the girl finds out too late.