He is enamoured with Gerd (Liv Ullmann), a high school drop out who has a reputation for being promiscuous.
Gerd, an illegitimate child raised by a working single mother, dreams of being loved and pampered with luxurious things and is not impressed at first with the shabby cabin and lack of store bought food.
When she tries to run away however Anders finds her and convinces her to come back, promising to take her into town for cigarettes and dancing.
Anders's father and Gerd's mother take the train to go and see if they can find the young lovers and bring them home.
He propositions her sexually and grows angry when she declines, calling her a whore but promising to take her with him anyway.
Anders's parents cover the theft of the sheep and the fact that he tried to pay for his stolen groceries also mostly absolves him of his crimes in the eyes of the police.
Realizing that Bendik is still alive Gerd and Anders drag him out of the barn and try to nurse him back to health.