In Sagliena, Pietro Stelluti has become a marshal of the Carabinieri and greets the photo of his former superior Antonio Carotenuto, now on leave, while his colleague Baiocchi who has been promoted to the lower rank of brigadier remained under his orders. In a dialogue between Stelluti and Baiocchi, it is revealed that the love story with the "Bersagliera" ended badly. Now the young marshal has fallen in love with Maria, a girl who has a bar in the town square, but her shyness prevents him from declaring himself. Meanwhile, Maria is asked in marriage by Percuoco, a mature upstart who has returned to the village after making a fortune in France. Maria rejects the advances of the latter who then, to force her to surrender, opens another place and hires Carmelina, a busty waitress who attracts all of Maria's old customers to the new bar.
