Closely Watched Trains/Recap

Czechoslovakia, in the last stages of World War II. Milos Hrma has one big ambition in life: To become a train dispatcher so that he can lead a leisurely lifestyle with little work. So he starts working at the local train station, where he meets train dispatcher Hubička, who divides his time between lazing around and hitting on the telegraphist, and the station master, who seems more interested in his geese and in condemning Hubička's exploits than the train service. Meanwhile, Milos' girlfriend Masa wishes to take their relationship further. Finally, the occupation forces pressure the people at the station to keep a close eye on all passing trains to prevent partisans taking out supply trains.

Sadly for Milos and Masa, they seem to be unable to consummate their relationship at first, and when they actually get the chance to spend a night together, Milos is unable to perform. Depressed, he considers himself not to be a real man and tries to commit suicide, but is brought to hospital before he bleeds to death. There, a certain Dr. Brabec explains to him that his "performance problems" are fairly common at his age, giving him some hints on avoiding this and proposing he seek the aid of a mature woman to overcome his anxiety.

Concurrently, Hubička and the telegraphist carry their affair further, which leads to an official investigation. When Milos returns to the station, asking all of his colleagues about whether they might be able to aid in his search for an experienced woman, things become even more complicated: The people from the station get involved in a plot to bomb an ammunition train that will pass through their station. A major stage of this plot is the arrival of artiste and guerilla fighter Viktoria Freie, who delivers the bomb to be used in the plot. She stays at the station overnight, helping Milos lose his virginity. The next day, all things come together: The railroad officials arrive for the final hearing of the case about Hubička and the telegrapher's affair. When Milos steals away from the hearing, the bomb in hand, he meets Masa and tells her that he has to do something and will be right back. He successfully drops the bomb on the train, but is shot by a guard on the train. Meanwhile, the hearing has finished, and when the officials leave the station, they arrive just in time to see the ammunition train exploding some way off.