Moscow, 1902. The famous director Konstantin Stanislavsky, in search of inspiration for staging a new play, decides to get acquainted with the life of the city "bottom". He turns to Vladimir Gilyarovsky, a recognized expert on the Moscow slums, for help.

Anna - a young wife of a wealthy businessman - is judging the absence of morality of her friend, who married a corrupt lawyer, knowing all the truth. After what Anna learns the truth about her own husband. Will she leave?