In a future where the sea doesn’t exist anymore and where adults imitate things from the past, dozens of children are building sand pies on an artificial beach. Only 12-year-old Estelle looks at a wall on which the sea is painted. Thibaud, her peer, approaches the girl and pretends he can see the things that no longer exist. He takes her to his hiding place and tries to convince her to take a pill that would allow her to see the real sea.

Charlie becomes a paratrooper, but, while serving in North Africa, he mistakenly kills one of his fellow U.S. soldiers, who is masquerading as a Nazi in order to wipe out a nest of the enemy. Shunned by his fellow soldiers, including his childhood friend Ace, Charlie is forced to prove himself when it is left up to him to transport a generator across an open road in full view of Nazi attackers.

Donald is stuck on KP at an air training base. Sergeant Pete gives him a huge pile of potatoes to peel first, then gives him some tests: close your eyes and touch fingers, pin the tail on the airplane. He finally gets sent aloft, only to discover it's a parachute jump. Eventually, both Donald and Pete end up falling with no chutes and a bomb.