The young Kuriata takes the position of the secretary of the City Committee in Grodów, where a corrupt clique ruled for many years. Kuriata begins to introduce competent people to managerial functions, which is enthusiastically received by workers who want changes for the better.

The circus leaves 1948. In one of the towns there is a circus organized right after the liberation. A conflict arises between Kossakowski, a lion trainer, and Chamron, a horse trainer, which creates a tense atmosphere in the entire team.

Retired police captain Siwy recounts to a reporter how he undertook a final, private investigation into the suspicious death of Ewa Salm, known as “Princess.” Though her testimony had secured a conviction, Siwy doubted the man’s guilt and set out to uncover the real killer—risking his own life to see justice done.

Captain Drawski is ordered to deliver the plane to the repair plant in Bydgoszcz, where the machine will undergo repairs. A young mechanic, Marcin Mercik, is also taken on board (against regulations). During the flight, a malfunction occurs. Drawski and Mercik have to catapult themselves, but the mechanic has never performed similar evolutions. He is paralyzed by fear, so that the plane, which is losing fuel, is in danger of crashing.

Imperialist spies try to disrupt and stop production in a large steelworks.