InthehugesteelfactoriesinTerni(Umbria,Italy),twofriends(MarioandPietro)fightfortheloveofthesamegirl(Gina).Pietrodiesbecauseofaworkaccidentatthefactory.TheotherworkersthinkMarioisresponsibleforthedeathofhisfriend.Mario,whoisinnocent,isforcedtoquit,buthisloveforGinaandhisdedicationtohisjobhelphimoutofhiscrisis.