"[2] Italy, in the summer of 1943: Countess Luisa, widow of a factory owner, and her son Andrea live in their country villa outside of their hometown Milan, where they reside since the outbreak of World War II.

When displaced persons arrive in the village, Andrea, rather out of compliance than solidarity, accepts to take five of them in at the villa, to the annoyance of his mother.

When a group of Italian soldiers escape from a German convoy that was taking them to the labor camps, he finds the courage to hide them in the villa, supported by Carlo and Lucia.

In the early morning hours, the runaway soldiers, together with Lucia and Carlo, enter a villager's truck to escape to their various destinations.

The last scene shows a group of German soldiers observing the dead bodies of Lucia and one of the escapees, while the truck continues its journey.