act iii takes place in a music conservatory eleven years later. živný’s students, one of whom is their son doubek, are singing music from an opera that živný has composed. živný himself is like the hero of his opera. the last part of the opera has not yet been composed. the students act out a scene from doubek’s childhood and make fun of it. živný talks about his opera. a storm comes up and he is killed by lightning. his opera will never be finished.