Early 1960s. Four friends, Admiral, Ataman, Pasha and Chief, walk the streets of the town all day or sit at the train station, wallowing in their dreams. Everything changes when the Admiral meets Marta, a student on an internship. The boy begins to prefer the company of the girl over that of his colleagues. This becomes the cause of misunderstandings between friends. Soon, however, Marta leaves.

A seemingly exemplary housewife and mother, she cares about the family's good image. In reality, she is hypocritical and ruthless, tolerating wickedness and covering up scandals in the name of "higher values." Zapolska exposes bourgeois hypocrisy and ridicules so-called decent people.