The drama offers Arnošt Pánek, chairman of the National Committee, as the protagonist of the story. Pánek is disturbed by news of the arrest of his protégé Kvasil – chairman of a JZD agricultural cooperative in the nearby village of Spádová. He is responsible for the revival of a neglected village, but is now accused of theft, fraud, and – on top of that – the rape of an under-aged girl.
As unbelievable as it sounds, a stint in prison can really fix things. The old seasoned pickpocket will serve many years before he is released, but he comes out a changed man. He even dares to refuse the lures and threats of an all-powerful criminal gang to cooperate with him.