Ivan Mirosnikov, a cheeky young man in the Gorbachev era, is trying to figure out what to do with his life (he's not in college, and the 2-year mandatory military service is looming large ahead of him). Meanwhile, he lives with his divorced mother, and works as a courier at a Russian newspaper. Through his job, he meets patronizing Professor Kuznetzov and his rebellious daughter Katya. To annoy the professor, Ivan claims to have an affair with Katya. To his surprise, Katya backs his story up.
The newlyweds return to Moscow after a wonderful sea cruise on the Black Sea. It seems that they will have a happy life ahead, their beloved job, but chance rudely cuts off all dreams: Viktor doesn't have time to slow down and knocks down an elderly woman with his Zhiguli. His desire to evade responsibility is replaced by repentance and a decision to accept the burden of guilt upon himself.
Doctor Nechayev lives by the concerns of his patients. This is a man of remarkable mental qualities and a highly qualified specialist in cardiology, but he is completely unadapted to life in everyday life and imperceptibly lost himself, did not do much of what he dreamed of and did not understand the selfless love of a young student Alya. The doctor gradually puts an end to his hopes and dreams – they fade into the background, supplanted by work in the hospital.
