A powerful minister is shaken upon learning of a plot to assassinate him. However, he is reassured by the police, who promise him protection, knowing the identities of the terrorists involved. The police soon apprehend three men and two women, all young adults, in possession of a significant amount of dynamite, leaving them little doubt of their impending execution.

The Arrest and Swift Justice

True to their word, the police capture a group of five revolutionaries, ranging in age from nineteen to twenty-eight, along with a stash of explosives. The evidence against them is irrefutable, sealing their fate with a death sentence. Their trial moves rapidly, and the verdict is decisive, leading to their imprisonment until their execution, which is scheduled just two days later.

Fellow Inmates Await Execution

Sharing the prison with them are two other men, both of whom have been languishing for approximately two weeks, awaiting their own deaths. Ivan Yanson, one of these condemned, is a peasant with limited command of Russian and a propensity for cruelty, particularly when intoxicated. His misdirected rage manifests in the abuse of animals and ultimately leads him to murder his master and attempt to assault his master's wife, sealing his own death sentence.

Yanson's Desperation

Initially, Yanson wishes for the time leading to his execution to pass quickly, but as the moment approaches, he pleads with his guards, expressing his fear and bewilderment at his fate. With no one to love or trust, he is overwhelmed by terror and scarcely comprehends the gravity of his situation.

The Fearsome Golubets

The other inmate, Tsiganok Golubets, revels in his violent reputation as a robber and a murderer. Occasionally overtaken by madness, he exhibits wild behavior, howling like an animal, only to lapse into silence soon after. The concept of his impending execution leaves him indifferent, as he sees life devoid of meaning without the thrill of crime.

Facing Death with Defiance

The five revolutionists resolve to meet their fate without flinching. Nonetheless, Sergey Golovin's resolve crumbles when his parents visit him, leading to a rare display of emotion. He is youthful and vibrant, struggling to grasp the finality of his looming death.

Visits from Family

Vasily Kashirin's mother visits him, while his father chooses to stay away. Long detached from his parents, Vasily harbors no sadness over his father's absence, nor does he have any deep affection left for his mother. Steeling himself for the inevitable, he shows no outward signs of fear.

Tanya's Maternal Instinct

Tanya Kovalchuk is primarily concerned for her fellow revolutionaries, whom she affectionately refers to as her children. Her own impending death hardly registers with her; her thoughts are consumed by the well-being and fears of her comrades, whom she deeply loves.

Musya's Martyrdom

Musya believes she will achieve immortality through her death, joining the ranks of martyrs she venerates. Her sole regret is not accomplishing anything monumental to warrant such a sacrifice, yet she consoles herself that she stood on the brink of greatness. Her impending execution is a testament to her perceived victory over her captors, whom she feels fear her potential.

Werner's Late Realization

Werner, initially disillusioned and disdainful of humankind, experiences a shift within his prison cell, discovering an unexpected love and pity for humanity. This newfound empathy affords him a sense of liberation he never knew outside the confines of his captivity. The compassion he rediscovers is both surprising and gratifying.

The Final Meeting

On the day of execution, the five revolutionaries are allowed a brief moment together. Their eyes meet with hesitance, each hoping to avoid witnessing fear in another's gaze....