The fate of Illarion Groza was tragic. Many years ago, upon returning from the front, he learned that his wife had given birth to a daughter by an Italian officer, and he shot her with his machine gun. But even now, Illarion cannot forget his wife, forgive her betrayal, or justify his cruelty. And that is why his relationship with his daughter Yulka is so dramatic and tense... The artist Bogutovsky, who lives in the captivity of false pompous art, carries the burden of past years... After hearing Illarion's story, the writer Iskra destroys the manuscript of his play: life turns out to be much more complicated than he imagined.