Frantiska (Nina Jiránková), wife of farmer Podesva (Gustav Hilmar), searches in vain for her little son Metúdek on a winter night. Her rough and much older husband refuses to help her. Desperate young woman recalls the preceding events. Eight years ago she was in love with a forest worker Jan. Before the planned wedding took place Jan died while working in the forest. Pretty but poor Frantiska became a single mother. Rich widower Podesva fancied her, and to secure a future for her son, she finally gave in to his courting and married to his farm. Farmer's behaviour soon worsened.