Separated from the rest of his retreating regiment, Tarasconi (Umberto Orsini), a private with the Italian forces during World War I, comes across an Austrian general (Rod Steiger) and captures him. Dreaming of the riches he will receive from the authorities as a reward for delivering an enemy general to them, Tarasconi sets off on a cross-country quest with the general as his prisoner. But the general proves too wily for the bumbling Tarasconi and quickly escapes. Thanks to the aid of fetching peasant lass Ada (Virna Lisi), the general is recaptured. Due to the deprivations of war and Ada's altogether superior qualities, the trio becomes a duo, and then a trio again, as alliances shift and unlikely bonds are forged. As the horrors and insanity of war engulf the countryside, peasant, soldier and general come to realize that life and friendship may be the greatest reward. It's a lesson that comes at a steep price.