줄거리

시위 주동협의로 도피중인 김기영(문성근)은 광부자리를 구하러 탄광촌으로 들어와 간신히 연탄공장에 자리를 얻는다. 연탄공장 사장의 외아들인 성철(박중훈)은 아버지의 힘을 등에 업고 술주정과 기둥서방 노릇, 아버지의 고리대금업 심부름을 하며 다방과 술집을 전전하며 폭군처럼 군림한다. 티켓을 파는 다방 레지로 몸을 유일한 밑천으로 살아온 영숙(심혜진)은 기영으로 인해 새로운 삶의 의욕을 갖게 되고 자신을 한날 창녀처럼 대하는 뭇 사내들과는 다른 기영을 사모하게 되는데...

Gi-young a student activist wanted by the government for leading demonstrations hides out in a "soon-to-be-abandoned" coal mine and works as a gofer. Sung-cheol, the coal factory owner's son, is known around town for being a tyrant in nearby coffee shops and bars. He shows uncharacteristic interest in Gi-young. Young-sook, who sells more than coffee at the coffe house, is fascinated by Gi-young's qualities. She decides to pursue love by giving up prostitution. Their love remains even after the threat of a worker strike. When Sung-cheol hears about his mother's death, he becomes violent towards Young-sook.. Gi-young tries to stop the fight but is pulled into it and mistaken by the police as a perpetrator. After the torture he endured, the police let him go. Gi-young has no choice but to leave town because his identity has been exposed. Young-sook sets off with him to leave the coal mine village but on her last coffee run, she runs into Seong-cheol. She kills him when he tries to stop her from leaving and is dragged off by the police as Gi-young watches on.