In a Albanian orphanage during the Italian occupation the conditions are horrible. The fascist directer treats the starving children like prisoners. In order to ideologically educate them in the "right" way, he forces them to clear the town of all anti-fascist communiques distributed by the communist and of all slogans written by them. The children feel like traitors. Under the influence of Luan, a communist teacher, and Ali, a communist worker, they begin to observe every step of their director. Jaçe, Gjergj, Lelo, and Tani, four of the older children, incensed by the brutality of their guard, a villainous aid of the director, take revenge by toppling him down the stairs. This is only action of their protest.