A young postman is in love with a girl named Lika—her hair, her comb, her veil—yet they are not meant to be together. A young woman is in love with the postman—his bag, his letters, his love for Lika—yet they are not meant to be together.

An unprecedented piece of news spreads through the village: a comrades’ court is to be held between collective farm brigade leader Yakiv Brus and an old woman named Motria, whom he struck on the head. The village club fills with people eager to sort out what seems to be every pressing issue at once.