Włodzimierz Twardowski

Witek runs after a train. Three variations follow on how such a seemingly banal incident could influence the rest of Witek's life.

Two young men from a town near Łódź attack and rob a taxi driver. Unsatisfied with the loot, they make their escape from the authorities across Poland.

The problem of the Polish population displacement from their land within the limits of the Prussian partition. Germans come to the village harassing a wealthy peasant Snail, leading to the tragedy. Slug's cottage burns, his wife dies. The peasant does not give up, defending his inheritance. He sticks on a patch of his Polish soil and protects it like a soldier his post.

In the first months after the war, a period of confusion and fratricidal fighting, a Warsaw whack-job drafted into the ranks of the KBW gains the first life experiences that make him an informed citizen. Marian, a boy from Targówek, is serving in the KBW. His unit is sent to a village plagued by a band of NSZ. Marian becomes involved with a young teacher, Anka, whose brother is a member of the NSZ. During the final trial, Stefan is killed and Marian is seriously wounded and taken to the hospital. An investigation is carried out in the village. Marian does not admit that he knew about Stefan and his contacts with his sister. When he leaves the hospital, he does not find the girl, but their son, who is being cared for by Anka's parents. He takes the boy and returns to Targowek.

Nikodem Dyzma immigrates from the eastern part of Poland to the capital in the hope for possibilities to make a living. He is in need, very poor and forced to look for basic food and shelter. Yet, on a day when an unexpected invitation appears, his life changes dramatically.