After their mother falls gravely ill, unruly brothers Elmer and Erik are sent to a rural boys home, where Headmaster Heck rules with an iron fist.

Kindly teacher Miss Hammershøi befriends and encourages Elmer, making him her mailroom assistant, but as Christmas nears, he suffers more abuse.

Inspectors visit Gudbjerg unannounced, but the boys can say little. Erik reels when Heck informs him he and Elmer will not be released soon, as hoped.