While sitting in the pub, Jan Rybecký tells his life story...At one point he works on a construction site where he becomes acquainted with the charming Irena. Having presumed her to be single he does not expect to find that her husband is in fact his superior. Irena confesses this to Jan one day when her husband, engineer Frank, comes to inspect the construction site. Soon afterwards Jan is dismissed. Next he works as a labourer on the river and lives with the family of his roughneck fellow labourer Tuček. One day, Tuček brutally beats his wife, Jan steps in to defend her and accidentally kills Tuček. He is sentenced to five years in prison. After serving his time he cannot find work anywhere. Lidunka, the daughter of the landlord takes him in and helps him to apply for a job on the local construction site, which is once again run by engineer Frank. Frank sends Jan to the stone quarry. Jan resists Irena's renewed attempts at seduction and Irena finally confesses to her husband that it had been her misdemeanour in the past and not Jan's. Frank files for divorce, apologises to Jan and promotes him to the Construction Projects Office.
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