The end of the World War II. The violin player Asen has been mobilized and leaves for the front. His girlfriend Radka remains in Sofia to wait for his return. Asen is badly wounded. A nurse, Elena, looks after him in hospital. Asen returns but does not call on Radka. The two - Asen and Elena - have decided to settle in his native village. Radka goes to Asen's home. She takes him by surprise and discovers that he has lost both his arms. The violinist tells her about Elena's care. Radka understands everything. Asen and Elena arrive in the village. He becomes a schoolmaster. Asen starts dictating his short stories to one of his pupils. Radka begins work at the industrialist's factory. Asen explains to the farmers how to bring down water from the mountain. Everyone joins in the work. One of the villagers, the lazybones, manages to convince the people that their efforts are useless. They abandon the digging of the ditch in order to obtain rain by prayer.