The legendary commander of the Civil War, the winner of Wrangel arrives in the capital at the call of Stalin. In the capital, he is perplexed to learn that the Politburo at a special meeting decided to force him to operate on a long-standing ulcer. The attending physician is convinced that the operation is not needed, but, obeying party discipline, the old Bolshevik lies on the operating table.

The story about actors who will never agree to betray their theatre, even if they will have to burn themselves. And other instructions on how to behave if a whiskered man breaks into your house and wants you to leave it.