The poor tailor Perchyk who dreams to buy a she-goat lives in a small town. Meanwhile, Perchyk’s daughter Frida falls in love with the unemployed Elia. Perchyk is totally against their marriage, as he cannot buy a she-goat if the son-in-law does not have any money. Finally, Perchyk buys a she-goat from a rich tavern owner but he gives him… a goat. Moreover, a police officer dissatisfied with the tailored uniform forges a document, according to which Perchyk and his whole family are expelled from the town as troublemakers.

In October 1917, Warrant Officer Shakhov sided with the revolution.Shakhov is disturbed by the thought that once, during the imperialist war, he was arrested for participating in a revolutionary circle and, during interrogation, while in a semi-conscious state, revealed the name of his comrade and teacher, the revolutionary Rayevsky. This offense of Shakhov's was exposed. The Revolutionary Tribunal sentences Shakhov to death. At the last moment, he is saved by Raevsky, who by then had become a significant party figure named Turbin, who tells the court about Shakhov and the circumstances in which he unknowingly became a traitor. The tribunal acquits Shakhov. Based on the novel “Nine Tenths of Fate“ by Veniamin Kaverin.