Nine volunteers start digging a tunnel through rugged mountain terrain. The group includes three miners. The rest have come from different parts of the country for all sort of reason. When the winter comes, a snowstorm makes the road impassable and the supply truck cannot reach them in time. With only one hundred meters left to dig, the tunnel collapses. Everybody except the communist Damyan quits the construction site. Down in the town, they sign on at the mine and will have to start work in two days. During those two days, one after the other, are overwhelmed by shame at having deserted the tunnel and finally go back to Damyan to complete their undertaking despite all difficulties.