Alone by the Forest

Oldřich and Věra Lavička travel with their children Petřík and Zuzanka to a cottage belonging to their acquaintance, engineer Radim Zvon, in Loukov. They hope Zvon will help them find their own cottage — and indeed they spot a picturesque cottage owned by old Komárek, who agrees to sell and in the meantime rents them a room.

While Oldřich considers the country stay beneficial for health and the children quickly bond with the kind-hearted grandfather, Věra becomes increasingly agitated. She is bothered by many things and increasingly pressures her husband to discuss the sale with the grandfather — who clearly gets in her way. On the weekend, Oldřich's friend Houdek, a doctor, arrives and examines the grandfather, finding him in perfect health; when he also meets the grandfather's very elderly father, he realizes that hopes for a quick sale are futile.

In winter, the grandfather falls ill anyway, and Houdek sends him to the hospital against his wishes. When the family later travels to the village with a notary to finally conclude the deal, they find the grandfather at home — healthy and vigorous.