Parjan and his son, Wantun, are arrested by the army and imprisoned after Parjan’s ketoprak troupe is accused of being affiliated with Lekra. While in prison, Parjan remains cheerful in front of Wantun, trying to conceal the harsh reality of their situation. At the same time, he continues rehearsing ketoprak with his fellow inmates behind bars. Some time later, Darto—the prison warden and Parjan’s brother-in-law—reveals that Parjan’s name has been placed on a list of prisoners to be exiled out of town. Before the execution of the order, Parjan asks for permission to stage the ketoprak performance they have been rehearsing.