On a park bench, one gossip tells another the story of a young man who has just passed by. His mother Helena was a beautiful and talented singing student years ago. She was platonically loved by her classmate Vilém, the son of a shoelace merchant. After the conservatory graduation party, Helena was seduced by the frivolous Martin. The next day, he left for Paris and did not report back. The girl was horrified to discover that she was pregnant. Therefore, she welcomed the saving offer of marriage from the faithful Vilém...

A young farmer, Jan Aleš, is drafted from his native Pošumaví to join the army. Since he likes his new environment, he stays with the army as a long-term serviceman. He even successfully passes the exams for the military academy. There he becomes friends with his Slovak colleague Milan Jurčík. He studies diligently, but thanks to Milan he sometimes finds time to go out into the city. That is how he meets the factory owner's daughter, Zdenka, with whom he falls in love. However, her father is not very happy about the promising relationship.

Folk song collector Dr. Šerk arrives in the remote village of Lesov. He is enchanted by the singing of sixteen-year-old Madla Satranová and he records her songs for radio broadcast. Šerk's friend, composer Jaroslav Klán, takes care of a group of orphans, from whom he has formed a choir. Šerk brings the orphaned Madla to him. The teenage girl begins to help the housewife Nána with the care of the children.