 The crusty hero, Habryka, is an old miner who has won many worker medals and is now retired with his youngest son and latter s family living with him. To build new apartment buildings, the old houses are being bought out, the residents given apartments in the new houses, and being cleared away. But Habryka refuses to sell. He thinks his house has too much history, and he will not leave even if the new place have more modern facilities. Everybody tries to convince him. His son s wife leaves, he is threatened but to no avail. Finally he gives in when the irate head of the mine gives him a new model house. Unfortunately the house is in a remote location and many gadgets confuse the wife. They are lonely. He dies in his sleep, and later gets a giant funeral as a homage to one of the oldest miners in the district.