Listening to the story of young Partisan Jovan, who was sentenced to death by firing squad because he didn't fulfill his mission, commander Pavle remembers his love for nurse Jelena, his relationship which ended tragically during the horrors of war. A woman, because of whom Jovan did not finish his task, was also named Jelena and, comprehending that war has no rights to destroy love, Pavle sets Jovan free.