Young village shopkeeper Ferda Zuska wants to throw himself in front of a train because his girl has married another man. At the last moment he is saved by the railway watchman Dousa and his wife Anna. Ferda soon forgets his sorrow and begins to court this Anna. The unsuspecting Dousa is the object of laughter for the entire village. In addition, in saving Ferda he slipped on the railway tracks and since that time he has had poor hearing. One day he even discovers to his horror that he has become completely deaf and for this reason he must leave his job. After some time his hearing returns. Dousa decides to pretend further that he is deaf to find out what people think of him.