It is 1865, and Joshua Clantz, a Union soldier, has been journeying to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Picard. Clantz carries practically nothing, but one of the few things he does carry is the left leg of Private Orlin MacDonald. Orlin had become Clantz's close friend during the years of the war, but he has recently died in battle. Right before he died, Orlin requested that Clantz carry his leg back to his betrothed, a woman named Sophie Picard. Sophie's name had been tattooed on Orlin's leg during the war, and he wanted her to have the leg. Clantz arrives at the Picard's, and Mr. and Mrs. Picard invite him in for dinner. However, they refuse to let him see Sophie, as she has been incredibly distraught over the death of Orlin and has been instructed by a doctor not to see anybody. Clantz refuses to give Mr. and Mrs. Picard what he has brought for Sophie — Orlin's leg is hidden inside a crate, and Clantz also refuses to tell them what's inside — until Sophie comes to get it herself. After dinner, Mr. Picard and Clantz begin drinking, and their conversation escalates until they begin shouting at one another. Clantz leaves in a huff with the crate containing Orlin's leg and makes camp on a hill above the Picard's. Near morning, Sophie Picard appears at his campsite, telling him that she overheard his conversations with her parents and that they refuse to let anyone visit her lest they see that she is pregnant with Orlin's child. Sophie and Clantz talk for awhile, and Clantz shows her Orlin's leg. They talk briefly of the possibility of a life together, but Sophie dismisses the notion and leaves for her parent's house with Orlin's leg. Clantz later tries to follow Sophie's trail before giving up altogether and heading west.