Thirsty Youth

The wife of cottager Marek has an illegitimate son, Jaroslav, with landowner Navrátil, who has no interest in the boy. Marek reproaches his wife for her misbehaviour even after many years, avoids working, and drinks away their money. Jaroslav is a good boy and his mother is a great support. He likes Liduška, who lives alone with her father, the ferryman Král. Her mother has long ago abandoned them. Marek makes friends with the vagabond Doubek, who usually comes to the village each summer for seasonal farm work. Doubek takes a fancy to Liduška, and the romantic adolescent girl is not indifferent to him. Jaroslav is jealous of Doubek and on account of him he quarrels with Liduška. Mrs. Králová comes from Prague, but she leaves at once without having met with her daughter. Marek needs money for his lover, the innkeeper Marie, and together with Doubek he burglarizes Navrátil's safe. Doubek is soon arrested after the theft and Marek drowns in fleeing from the police. Navrátil, whose marriage has remained childless, would like to redress his long years of indifference toward his son by offering Mrs. Marková and Jaroslav money. Both, however, proudly refuse it. Liduška makes up with Jaroslav.