The film, set in 1956, stars Gyula Káli, a young man from the countryside who moves to Budapest and sees only one opportunity for success: to become a ping-pong champion. His work and his private life are determined by a strict training schedule, which he refuses to interrupt even for the days of October. It is only as a champion in 1957 that he wonders: will his achievements make up for the sacrifices he has made to achieve his goal?