An old peasant from Chodský, Záhor, claims to the young Podestát that he returned three hundred gold pieces to his father before the old Podestát died. Out of greed, Záhor even decides to perjure himself in court. The indignant creditor warns him of God's wrath. Záhor's sons, Matěj and Vondra, are vying for the same girl - the daughter of a blacksmith, Nana.

Věra accepts the offer of her friend Kajetán, who arranges a position for her in Dominik's puppet factory. The spirited girl impresses her employer, Antonín Dominik, so much that he falls in love with her. Dominik's mother notices her son's interest in Věra and immediately fires her. Kajetán, who works in the studio of sculptor Výr, who is engaged in the production of mechanical puppets that can be used to advertise goods, asks Věra for help...

Eman Vovísek drinks away his unrequited love for Liduška, who married his cousin, the factory owner Danek. Because Eman is aggressive when drunk, he is taken to a mental health facility, where he meets his uncle Hanibal. Hanibal has a breakdown after his wife Matylda broke up with him. Matylda wanted to be free so she could marry her first love, Uncle Jonathan, who is due to arrive from America. Jonathan sends a telegram saying he will stay in Paris. Such a situation does not suit Danek. He assumed that Liduška would be visiting from America and that he himself would go to his mistress in the meantime. He therefore visits Vovísek and persuades him to play the role of Jonathan.