The foreman, Geremio, gaffs his protesting men on through the March snow. The workers make fun of Geremio behind his back but he merely waves off their criticism and thinks that he can’t complain when Christ was crucified. The contractor calls to tell them to speed up their work and Geremio warns that if they don't meet the quotas they won't be able to afford fancy Easter delicacies.  At the end of the day, Geremio returns to his children and wife in the house he bought, a crowning achievement in his life as an immigrant. In bed together, Geremio and his wife Annunziata hug each other and she asks him why he never complains about his work, but he brushes her off. He doesn't love his job and is criticized by his superiors for giving them breaks. At noon on Good Friday, he drinks wine with his employees and when he brags to them about his house and children, they respectfully wish him well. His boss tells Geremio to pick up the workload or there will be layoffs and he looks around, frightened, at his men. While they work, they anticipate getting off at 3 p.m. and talk about their families.  Suddenly, the building they are working on collapses and the men are crushed by wooden beams. Blackness envelops Geremio and the rest of the men and they cry out in pain. He wonders if he's dreaming and fights consciousness to stay with his children. He shouts out for help and falls into wet concrete that begins to harden around him until only his brain remains alive. He has an existential crisis about his identity and wishes that Jesus will save him. But, his prayers do nothing and the concrete slowly contracts, crushing his skull.