Grigory is called up for active military service for four years. Panteley, who has come to see his son off, tries to persuade him to return to his legal wife, Natalya. Grigory's regiment heads to the Russian-Austrian border. Soon, everyone is shocked by the terrible news of the outbreak of war with Germany. And in the fall, the Melekhovs receive a letter with news of Grigory's death.