School of working youth. A new teacher of Russian language and literature comes here. Soon, Yelena Nikolayevna realizes that it is impossible to make concessions to adult students who are tired after work, but you need to interest them, awaken in them a desire to learn.

Based on the novel by Natan Rybak “Soldiers Without Uniforms”. Director of a research institute engaged in research in the field of nuclear physics, Maxim Nerchin is testing a new research method. And although the method did not justify itself, Nerchin with unreasonable confidence began to build a more powerful installation... He uses almost all the institute's funds to create it and is so sure of success that he loudly announced it at a foreign symposium, thereby causing special attention to his institute on the part of those American circles who are primarily interested in creating weapons that bring death and destruction...

A group of peasant farmers in turn-of-the-century Ukraine leaves home in search of better luck in Siberia. The story follows those who stay behind and their dispute with the landowner, as well as a love triangle involving a local beauty and two young men.