In the 1930s, during Collectivization, we follow Alexandra Sokolova, who having joined a kolkhoz, is promoted by the Party to the management of the farm: she becomes chairman of the kolkhoz, courageously coping with the difficulties of collectivization, the distrust of some fellow villagers, and family conflict.
On a stopover in Moscow, a young writer Volodya makes friends with Kolya, who is returning home from a hard night shift. Just as Kolya is about to take a rest, he is met by his old friend Sasha, who wants help getting a deferral from military service so that he can get married.