It all started when the family of a rich farmer, Stanek, moved to a small village and his daughter Liduška fell in love with a poor violinist, Toník. However, her parents did not approve of her love and decided to marry her to the son of the landowner Krejzová, even though the girl rejected the unsympathetic man. When her parents did not back down, Liduška was determined to run away with Toník, but when she learned that her beloved had been called up for military service, in despair she gave in to her parents' pressure and agreed to the wedding...

A series of unfortunate events led the protagonist astray: even taking other people's money did not save his wife's life, she died in childbirth. After his release from prison, he did not find the strength to report to his daughter who was placed in an orphanage, and after a fight in a pub, out of fear of being prosecuted again, he even fled abroad. But, old and sick, he still longs to return to his homeland.

Vlasta Burian, as a stowaway, disrupts the disciplined operation of a railway station. Mr. Ťopka gives the impression of a gentleman, somewhat Chaplin-like. He makes a living by doing odd jobs, for which he exclusively rides the train as a stowaway. During one of his trips, he meets the feared railway inspector general Kokrhel. At a small station, he manages to get out and change into the stationmaster's uniform. However, he cannot avoid meeting Inspector Kokrhel...

Alois Novák (Oldrich Nový), a minor clerk in a travel agency and the husband of a dowdy housewife Marenka (Natasa Gollová), lives a run-of-the-mill, dull life. In his soul, however, there resides an inextinguishable desire for adventure. And so once a month he poses as a playboy. As the mysterious and wealthy Mr. Kristian he goes to the exclusive Orient Bar where he does not skimp on generous tips and where he platonic-ally seduces beautiful and elegant women. In the salon he speaks of love and the magnificence of exotic lands, which he has supposedly come to know on his wanderings abroad. In reality he has read all of this in the travel agency's brochures.

Adam Kavalír returns from abroad to take over the family factory from his father. But as a consequence of his father's bohemian lifestyle the business is so far in debt that the Kavalírs even lose their villa and must find a place to sublet. Mrs. Trojanová is no longer up to managing her pension, the co-owner of which is none other than her peevish daughter Eva, and she is looking for a capable manager. Adam applies for the position and is accepted.