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 writer Jan Kellert - the author of the widely known book "The Legend of the Vistula", which is part of the canon of pre-war middle school reading, comes from Lublin to Żmurki, where he spent the occupation. The division of the Żmurki estate is to take place the next day. The welcome dinner...
Franek, a petty criminal and gambler, befriends Rysio, who performs inspections of meat plants. Rysio suspects wrongdoings at the slaughterhouse. Franek, despite his age, cannot find a place in life, with nothing achieved and, what's more, still not knowing what to do.
