While in Bohemia, an American industrialist named Craigs goes missing. In Prague, the police have arrested a man without identification, who bears a striking resemblance to Craigs. The doctor, the secretary, and the hotel staff all claim that he is the industrialist. The man denies this claim. When he learns how harsh and despotic the man he is believed to be is, he agrees to go to London and adopts his new identity.

Filmed during the Nazi occupation, this panoramic drama set in a Prague department store follows the divergent destinies of four female coworkers, each of whom seeks happiness in a different way.

The captain of the Prague shipping company, Adam Korkorán, lives his dreams of commanding ocean liners, even though in reality he only sails a small steamer on the Vltava River. The company's management still has problems with him, so when Korkorán refuses to retire, they at least send him to a spa. However, at the train station in Poděbrady, a servant from the most expensive spa hotel accidentally takes away his suitcase with the luggage of a rich lady. As a result, Korkorán is mistaken for a corvette captain and a rich man. Dazzled by the luxury, Korkorán befriends a retired admiral and begins to play a game with the spa guests and himself. He is even declared the most popular guest of the season. When he runs out of money, he writes to his housekeeper to send him all his savings. The horrified woman decides to go to Korkorán, and the truth comes out...

During the New Year's Eve celebration of the arrival of the twentieth century, three friends meet in a nightclub. Notary Jiří Voborský, clerk Emanuel Střela and Lieutenant Miloslav Jičínský.