In 1920 Poltava, Ukraine, the first Soviet colony for street boys was created. This film tells the story of these rebellious kids and how the colony's director sought to rehabilitate them by allowing them to govern themselves.
The plant director gathers all the young people in one shop, entrusting them with both work and management. The experiment is unsuccessful, as the youth workshop did not become a collective. Young engineer Sergey, who heads the shop, realizes that only by uniting the youth, he will be able to work fruitfully and fight against marriage and indiscipline. Tsybulkin, who was chosen as a Komsorog, helps to realize the plan conceived by Sergey,. Two schools come to internship. One of them - Lisa Gromova, the daughter of the director of the plant. The shop staff and Sergei undertake to re-educate the maiden spoiled by her mother. Director Gromov himself helps them.
