 A young girl finds scattered envelops in a field, then a postman s satchel, then a hanged man. Jump 20 years: the girl, now grown, lives with her aunt and has a job with the post office only because her dead uncle was a respected party leader. She s subbing at a small station when a robber strikes. He takes the loose cash; after he leaves, she finds lots more money in a metal box. She takes it. Suspicious police assign Ivan, who s from the council, to follow her. He does, trying to seduce her nightly during his surveillance. She sees the thief again by accident and makes contact.