A dead hen becomes a problem between two neighbor families in Ajara (west Georgia). That leads to drama; a young guy is killed in the next quarrel.

Banned in the Soviet Union for its "negative" content and never released, Kalatozov was forced to retreat from filmmaking for seven years because of this film. The film sets out to illustrate the old adage, "For want of a nail, the battle was lost," showing how the inferior quality of something so trivial as a nail in a soldier's boot leads inexorably to the capture of an armored train. Kalatozov had intended to demonstrate the crucial and universal importance of efficiency in Soviet industry, but the government decided that his fable gave a negative impression of the Red Army's capabilities.

A drug-addicted doctor lives in isolation in Africa. One day, a young, attractive married woman approaches him, seeking an abortion. He agrees to perform the procedure, but only if she submits to his sexual demands. The woman refuses and leaves immediately.

Two young workmen's teams are finishing a newly completed oil pipeline. A defect is discovered, which is blamed on one of the team members, Lado, and he is taken to the blacksmith shop. There is another socialist competition between the teams. A machine tool part suddenly goes missing from the first team, which will disrupt the entire work. The head of the second team is accused of stealing the part, but it soon turns out that he stole it from Lado in order to take revenge. At the general meeting, they demand Lado's dismissal, but the young worker's foreman intervenes and, at his request, Lado remains in the factory. The teams involved in the competition complete the plan ahead of schedule, their pictures are posted on the red board.

Everyday drama from the life of the Svans.