Linguistic clubs summer camp. Kruszyński (Piotr Garlicki), a young graduate, admits a belated dissertation of some Raczyk (Eugeniusz Priwieziencew) from Toruń to a student competition. He is aware that he exposes himself to a provost, known for his animosity towards the academia of Toruń. Kruszyński’s situation gets even worse when Raczyk’s thesis is enthusiastically received by the youth. In the meantime, the jury awards a different work – intellectually mediocre and uninspired. 

Jan and Marek are college friends. But since the graduation they went their separate ways. Jan chose the work of a meteorologist and took up residence in the countryside with his wife. Meanwhile, Marek stayed in Warsaw where he has a successful career as a scientist. One day he visits Jan and tries to convince him to go back to academic work in Warsaw. The meeting of two friends becomes a clash of two different characters, beliefs and views on the meaning of life. 

A tourist, whose behavior from the beginning seems at least strange, shows up in the Tatra hostel ”Morskie Oko”. He starts a contention with Teresa in an arrogant way. He implies to Maria, that she is too old to have a child and then gets into a dispute with a group of students. Finally, he borrows a sleeping bag from one of them and goes to sleep. In the morning it turns out that the stranger is missing. The hostel’s residents start the search. Rescuers and soldiers join them.