December 1944. Soviet troops came close to the City, a strategically important point of German defense. The city is heavily fortified by the Germans, and an assault can lead to huge losses among the attackers. An intelligence resident operating in the City transmits information that the entire city is mined by the Germans and will be blown up when the Soviet units enter it. The intelligence group that received information from him was destroyed: only one fighter, nicknamed the Artist, remained alive. He is accidentally found in the forest under the City by another group of scouts under the leadership of Lieutenant Papanin, working on their task.