Following the outbreak of WWI in 1914, Lenin is imprisoned in Poland on suspicions he could be a Russian spy. In his cell, he reflects over world politics, the war, and the common Poles he has met during his two years in the country.

Galicia, 1914. WW1 breaks out. Lenin, a Russian journalist who lives in exile with his wife and stepmother in a small, sleepy village near the Russian border, is imprisoned by the Austrian police on suspicions he could be a Russian spy. In the prison cell, Lenin reflects over world politics, revolutionary strategy and the common Poles he has met and discussed with during his two years in the country. The latter include the maid Ulka in his and Krupskaya's household and Ulka's fiance Andrzej, a shepherd. When Andrzej gets in trouble with the police Lenin accepts that Ulka hides him in the house. Lenin realizes he was not successful in convincing them of his socialist, anti-nationalist and secular views, but is later praised by Ulka as a "very honest and decent person" when she herself gets arrested and interrogated under torture about her former employer. Unknowing of her fate, Lenin is released and leaves with his family for Switzerland.