After receiving a slap in the face, Officer Silvio challenges the offending Count to a duel. However, urgent circumstances force the officer to leave, leaving the right to shoot. After many years, on the eve of the Count’s wedding, Silvio returns to demand retaliation.

The protagonist of the play is Vasily Vasilyevich Telkin, a surgeon in the clinical department of plastic and cosmetic surgery, who is preparing to celebrate his 60th birthday. However, an anonymous letter was sent from a higher authority to the institute, making absurd accusations against Telkin. Despite Vasily Vasilyevich being highly respected by everyone, his colleagues took this "signal" too seriously and, in doing so, caused an undeserved insult to their friend.