April 1944, after the invasion of Italy the allied forces are on advance. Like in the whole land also the inhabitants of Ardea are happy about the coming end of the Mussolini-regime.
Only the fanatic communal councillor Virgili tries to uphold the fascist order and to mobilize resistance against the American troops.
The smart mayor Vinicio tries meanwhile to acquit himself by making the famous Anti-Fascist Cappelaro to his successor. After some time Cappelaro agrees less than one condition- that his son Gianni is allowed to marry Vinicios’ daughter Aurora.
The marriage finds a sad end when Virgili appears with the local fat cat of the fascist party, who declares that the change of the mayor is not possible, alike the marriage- and who than send Gianni to the front. Cappelaro is able to protect his son from being send to the front- but the real problems seem to start in the moment, the hated Crippa is found murdered.
A tree man military unit under command of the sappy Mezzanotte should clarify the murder. The soldiers and the hysterical Crippas either have not counted on the coherence of the inhabitants of the village. With combined forces Cappelaro, Vinico and their friends are able to dispose the dead body. When there is no dead body- there is no murder…