In 19th century Wallachia war-bands of Ottoman Turks from across the Danube river raid Wallachia with impunity, while Wallachia's Phanariote rulers don't oppose them.

Mitrea Kocor, a young butler, gives up his work in the fields to join Antonescu's Romanian army, which fought alongside Nazi forces during World War II. After spending time in Soviet captivity and a prisoner-of-war camp, he returns to his home village to participate in post-war reconstruction.

In his struggle to innovate in an industrial plant, Professor Oltenu discovers, through laboratory research, a new technique that could be very useful in turning iron ore into better steel and products made from it. His experiments don't always yield the best results, especially when he is "helped" in his endeavors by a saboteur. The professor's wife and one of his employees help expose the saboteur and convince the professor to continue his work. Eventually the saboteurs are caught and severely punished, and the professor's research is patented and turned into successful manufacturing nanotechnology.