Ladislav Bacílek

The catastrophically dry weather of 1947 causes immense problems in the countryside. In the small village Klícov, only farmers Hánek and Bervida and the old Hromádka have water. The others must queue every day for a drop for themselves and their cattle. All the villagers lament over their previous decision to turn down the cooperative chairman Kouba's proposal to built a new village water-supply system.

Pavel is a Czech partisan fighter in the waning days of the war. Just as peace is declared, Pavel is shot in the spine and sent to the hospital emergency ward. As he fades in and out of consciousness, he recalls the events that led to his participation in the underground. Holding German occupation commander Engelchen responsible for all the horrors and deprivations heaped upon his comrades, Pavel is kept alive by the possibility of recovering and exacting vengeance upon the Nazi officer - no matter how long it takes.