A life of a driver Stephan Chekmenev turns out to be very lucky: healthy children, loving wife, solid loghouse. But once his fellow-villager perishes in a forest. And Chekmenev, considering himself to be the one to blame, in expectation of an imminent retribution, tries to understand: why and when did he, once having so many friends, become so indifferent towards other peoples lives.

Two young, simple-minded twin sisters sewing-motorists from a vocational school, who after the death of their mother live separately from their alcoholic father, are charmed by a modernist painter who is indulgent to them and even introduces them into the circle of his "chosen ones". Serge uses the sisters as models and introduces them to his photographer friends.

A former boxing champion returns to his native town and takes to drink, but finds the strength to stop: he marries and gets a job at a factory. During perestroika he joins the democratic movement. The authorities declare him a rapist.