Vera dreams of becoming a telephone operator. For the time being, though, she lives a carefree life and one day while out dancing she meets Sergej. He wants to marry her and shortly thereafter he moves in with her and her family. Vera's parents are against the marriage and they have their son come in from Moscow to talk some sense into his »flighty« sister. For his part, though, Sergej cannot reconcile himself to his future father-in-law's drinking and his mother-in-law's chronic depressive moods. The atmosphere is very tense, erupting when the father takes a knife and stabs Sergej.
Vera's family expects her to testijy against Sergej in court. Vera, however, cannot bear the lies and she tries to commit suicide. Sergej escapes from the hospital and makes his way back to Vera...