The play opens in the main room of the Iso-Kurkela farm, where the farmhand Kalle meticulously prepares ammunition and practices marksmanship, deeply committed to the ideals of the local civil guard. While older servants and the farm's weary son Esa view his dedication with skepticism or annoyance, the young daughter Hilppa enthusiastically supports him and joins the women's auxiliary organization. Tensions in the household mount when Samuli, a wealthier neighboring bachelor, arrives to court Hilppa with awkward boasts about his new bicycle and large barn, attempting to secure an advantageous marriage through material wealth rather than genuine affection.
As the day progresses, the domestic friction intensifies, driven largely by the sharp-tongued matriarch, Maija, who favors the wealthy match with Samuli and dismisses Kalle's patriotic pursuits as useless toil. Despite her disapproval, Kalle and Hilppa forge a mutual understanding, grounded in shared values and quiet resilience. Kalle's steady labor on the farm and his rigorous dedication to military training earn him the respect of the master of the house, who begins to see the emptiness of material ambition compared to true character.
In the second act, Kalle returns home triumphant after winning the district shooting competition, bringing home a prestigious trophy and a medal that cement his standing as a capable marksman and a reliable man. The master acknowledges Kalle's achievements and formally reverses his earlier hesitation, giving his blessing to the union between Kalle and Hilppa, much to Maija's bitter frustration. Her attempts to enforce her own will and drive Kalle away collapse entirely when the area commander and local civil guard members arrive at the farm.
The visitors bring unexpected official recognition, promoting Kalle to junior sergeant and honoring his record-breaking hours of training and steadfast loyalty. Witnessing Kalle's recognition and the genuine transformation of his brother Esa, who has finally chosen to join the guard, the master fully embraces the patriotic spirit and publicly ratifies the engagement. Defeated by the unified resolve of the household and the changing times, Samuli quietly departs into the evening, leaving the family reconciled in purpose as they join in a resolute patriotic song.
