The central character is a writer named Aglaya Ermolaeva, who accidentally hits her literature teacher, Smirnov, with her car. In her school years, the girl was infatuated with this man. Miraculously, the teacher survives the accident, but it turns out he has become a victim of fraudsters, losing his home and ending up on the streets. His son, Mitya, also loses his apartment shortly after, as his wife kicks him out and changes the locks. Of course, Aglaya cannot leave the Smirnovs in such a dire situation.