Commissioner Vašátko meets painter Horác while on vacation at a mountain cabin. A diverse group of guests has gathered here, ruled over by the aggressive and arrogant director Skorkovský, who humiliates and abuses his son with nonsensical orders. Horác takes this very badly, as do the others—but they are somehow indebted to the director. The tension in the cottage gradually increases, and the director is found dead. The police cannot get to the cottage because of a storm, so the experienced Commissioner Vašátko takes charge of the investigation. The cottage is full of people who have strong motives for murder...