The shrill and tragic story about an event that involved Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. In an infantry regiment of the military based in the Tula region an offence occurs. In this regiment, the capital’s lieutenant Grigory Kolokoltsev — inspired by progressive ideas — does his service. A military tribunal and execution await the soldier charged with the offence. Kolokoltsev asks Count Tolstoy for help — and he decides to protect the innocent man. The pointed history about the complexity of choice and fidelity to one’s ideals is based on real events.

Returning from another day of work at the vivarium, laboratory assistant Julia finds out that her husband wants to get a divorce, because the only thread that sealed their marriage is the mortgage paid. For Julia, her husband's decision is a surprise. She was sure that everything was fine with them, just like everyone else. Yulia wants to glue their relationship together by taking care of Oleg as her wards in the vivarium. Her goal is to form conditioned reflexes in her husband.