The movie takes place during Russia's civil war between the Reds (Bolsheviks) and the Whites (Mensheviks). Andrejka and Yarinka are a young betrothed couple in the village of Malinovka, caught between the battle lines. Gritsian is the leader of a Menshevik band who are planning to attack the village. Yarinka appeals to the local Bolshevik commander for his faction's help. The Bolsheviks quickly come up with a plan to save the village... but the plan requires Yarinka to enter into a pretend marriage with Gritsian.

影片描写在莫斯科某杂剧剧院第十五个演出年度的最后一次演出会上，天才的讽刺喜剧演员马克西莫夫又一次表现了他的惊人的才华:他在一瞬间连续表演了几个片断，尖锐地讽刺了夸夸其谈自以为是的人、棒子式的否定一切的文艺批评家、抄袭他人作品的诗人和音乐家。剧院的节目演完之后，马克西莫夫和他的妻子演员列芙阔耶瓦匆忙地上了汽车，奔火车站去了……