By chance, Kuzma Lichikov, a resident of the fairy-tale town of Veliky Guslar, found himself in a cave where a sleeping princess lay. She awoke from Kuzma's kiss and fell in love with the hero. Love awakened Lichikov's talent as a woodcarver, and he decorated the forest glade where he settled with the princess in a hut with amusing figures. Batyev, the "head of city culture," took an interest in his work. Deciding to use the craftsman and his fairy-tale glade for mass events, he promised to give Lichikov and the princess a separate apartment in return. Lichikov, having received the position, quickly became bureaucratic, and in a fit of official zeal, he did not notice how love disappeared from his life...

The alien ship in the rays of the evening sun seemed like a cloud, devoid of clear shapes, iridescent and completely safe. At that moment, Marya Stepanovna, her daughter Leocadia and granddaughter Sashenka, who was sick with a sore throat and was capricious, were in the house. Semensky, Leocadia's husband, has not yet returned from work. A cloud hung over the house for several minutes, suddenly fell on it, enveloped the house like fog, then rose again, picking up speed until it mixed with other clouds and clouds. The house has disappeared...

On New Year’s Eve, former rock singer turned respectable housewife Vera Pavlovskaya is preparing to spend the night alone. Her husband, a celebrated film director, claims he’s busy with reshoots—but in truth, he’s run off to his young mistress. Meanwhile, well-known journalist Stefania (or Fanya) faces the prospect of ringing in the holiday with the parents of her sweet but unloved fiancé, Petya. Architect Sergey Skvortsov boards a flight from St. Petersburg to Moscow, eager to reunite with his fiancée Laura. And young librarian Bronislava, also from St. Petersburg, dreams of winning the heart of Oleg—Vera and Sergey’s son—even though he’s happily married. But as New Year’s chaos and confusion take over, none of these plans go quite as expected.

Five stolen doves "monks" are helping to investigate a big diamonds theft.

The saleswoman of the village store Pasha Nikitina generously distributed all the money from the proceeds to the villagers in debt, when they were left without a salary through the fault of the Chairman. The audit appeared suddenly — and Pasha began to demand money back. Not having received debts, the heroine turned for help to her brother, who immediately responded to her misfortune: he sent money and came himself…

The story takes place in an institution called the "Experimental Base for New Management Techniques." Rumors of an impending staff reduction have stirred up the entire organization. Some are trying to use the situation to advance their careers, while others are still carrying out their duties without questioning the purpose of their "work." However, one employee, Savkin, openly challenges the routine and complacency, suggesting that the base should be dismantled and that everyone should find a job where they can truly contribute.