Vukasin returns from his studies in France to his home in rural Serbia in order to reveal his plans to his family. Vukasin's intentions anger his powerful father Acim.
Simka makes a confession. Posters that insultingly reveal Vukasin's love interest appear almost everywhere. Acim confronts the Captain who wants to enforce a government order.
Acim orders Nikola to kill a harmless man. Djordje and Acim have an emotional conversation, after which Djordje gets drunk. Radmila visits Vukasin. Acim gathers an angry mob.
In a flashback, Kata invites poor Luka to live with her. Acim is imprisoned and interrogated, so Vukasin works on his release. Djordje desperately attempts to have sex with a young barmaid.
Djordje visits a brothel and then returns home. Milunka tells Simka that Djordje is clearly infertile and that she should find another man to have a child with. Vukasin talks about politics with Olga's father.
Simka spends the night with her baby. Acim and Vukasin attend the Parliament on opposing sides. As years pass, Dordje's hatred towards Simka's son grows.
