At the seafront garden, the members of The Worker's Youth Union and the members of fascist organization are fighting. Absorbed in their feelings Vladko and Aneto have nothing to do with those events. Things at Aneto's big wealthy home look very different from Vladko's small house huddled in the yard. Kiril, Vladko's elder brother, is anxious about Vladko who should have been at the rally, but is writing poetry instead. Aneto and Vladko are happily dancing at the school-leavers' ball. Kiril has killed a German officer. The ball breaks out. Aneto has disappeared in the confusion. Vladko goes to look after her. A group of people armed with clubs and knuckle-dusters beat him cruelly because he is Kiril's brother. Kiril has joined the partisans. Vladko is seriously ill and dies. Kiril and his comrades continue the struggle.

The boy Stefan brings the supper to his father in village council office. From the frontier post comes the news that bandits have crossed the border. The boy goes back home. He and his sister prepare to go to bed. A blizzard is raging outside. A wounded stranger comes to the house in search of shelter. The mother dresses his wounds and gives him food. It becomes clear that he is not the lieutenant from the frontier post that he claims to be. Stefan jumps from the window and dashes to the frontier post. The mother tries to keep the saboteur as long as possible. The two quarrels. He hits her with the submachine gun. He attempts to escape, but the border guards have already surrounded the house.