plot() doesn't work from file

[Renato]

Hello, I'm very new to octave and I'm having a little problem with
plot(). It works ok in interactive mode, but it fails (with no errors)
if put in a file and executed by 'octave file.m'

for example if I run 'octave' and type 'plot(1)' I get a plot window,
but if I write 'plot(1)' in a file and save it as file.m, 'octave
file.m' doesn't do anything.

any idea on what the problem may be?

I'm on Archlinux and using Octave 3.2.4 

regards
renato