In the courtyard of a convent run by Mother Ekaterina, a dozen people are trying to build a new life. Young novitiate Olga is a simple soul, honest and loving. When a troublemaker enters the community, Olga trusts him immediately, and things get complicated.

Two escaped convicts pose as children's summer camp staff in order to evade capture and learn about caring for others in the process. Sumrak has been in prison since he was 16 years old but is pushing thirty now, is well acquainted with prison gang culture and covered with tattoos. Evgeni Koltsov is a former police officer unjustly imprisoned and destined for a death sentence from the other inmates if he stays in prison.

General Ivolgin, forester Kuzmich, and good-natured Lyova now are going into politics.