In the peasant estate of the widow Agna Veter there is a holiday: the evening before the wedding of her son Vasil. In the bustle of preparations, a certain Voschila appears - one of the organizers of the upcoming peasant uprising against the atrocities of the magnate Radziwill. Vasil Veter initially takes a peaceful position, calling for worldly joys and an end to all bloodshed. But at this moment Radziwill’s tax collectors shamelessly burst into the yard. This episode becomes the reason for Vasil to succumb to Voshchila’s persuasion to lead the uprising... ...Torches burn in the night. Agna takes an oath, blessing her son on the path of holy struggle.