Chalk and Cheese

Rudolf Bartoš, the owner of a farm, quarry and factory, is extremely rich, however, he is unapproachable and irritable, and the dread of his employees. One day he falls down a steep slope by a river and hurts himself. The quarryman Fábera finds him groaning in pain and takes him to his cottage. Fábera lives with his pretty daughter Anča and his orphaned nephews – the twins Tonda and Vašek. The several days spent in the company of these poor but loving people completely changes Bartoš’s view of the world. He shocks his servants with his affable behaviour on his return home and he increases the wages of the men working for him in his quarry. He continues to visit the Fábera family. His old pride, however, comes to the surface once again as he discovers that his nephew Oldřich wants to marry Anča. They part on bad terms and Fábera, who does not want to prevent his daughter marrying, is given the sack. Bartoš soon realises he had overstepped the mark. He sends Fábera a letter of apology with his payslip. It is almost too late. Before payday arrives, Fábera, upset by recent events, slips on the rock and has a serious fall. Fortunately, his injury is not fatal, thus the life of Bartoš’s one true friend is saved. —nfa.cz