Dreaming of a career for her child, the mother gives her soul to the devil, receiving the talent of a violinist for her son.

Not as she would like, a young woman’s New Year’s evening is taking place: the appointed date did not take place, and the whole night ahead. By chance, a stranger appears in her house. The good prince takes her far to the sea, and the plot of the Christmas tale repeats. But here the heroine is again alone, although still in the grip of memories of the past day.

The eternal “housing question” in Russia is taken on by Serafimov, a young and principled city council deputy, who is determined to help his constituents. In the end, he manages not only to secure a new building for the veterans of the brick factory—made from the very bricks they once produced—but also to have them all housed under one roof, so they wouldn’t feel the pain of separation after leaving their crowded communal apartments.