Shortly after World War I and the creation of the First Czechoslovak Republic, two war veterans are confronted in a small village in the north of Slovakia bordering Poland.
The village is home to one of the veterans, Marek Orban (Michal Dočolomanský).
As it is isolated and lacks job opportunities, he persuades the inhabitants to emigrate to America.
The other veteran, customs officer Halva (Radoslav Brzobohatý), arrives from Prague to protect the borders and the law of the new republic.
Both men of honor and principle, they are led to conflict which results in a death of villagers and customs officers.