Captain Ignat Belov is on his way home after the end of his military service. On the train he meets Sych, a criminal whom he has known since childhood. Sych offers him to take part in another risky job, but this time Ignat refuses, and tries to put a stop to their burglary, leading Soviets to believe he is an accomplice, and taken prisoner. Ignat is then released to put an end to Sych's crimes.

Ignat begins to fall for his new neighbor. He continues working his new job, completing crimes for them. During their raid of a clothing factory, Ignat's neighbor comes out to stop them, surprising Ignat. The elderly neighbor has a heart attack, leaving his grand-daughter without anyone. The police continue searching for Gorely, and get into a shootout, involving Ignat.

A man that is detained in relation to knowing Gorely, kills himself, or so it seems. The orphanage comes to take Ignat's young neighbor, and he promises to come later for her. Sych visits the brothel, where word gets out he is there. Ignat finds Sych's lover, but is beaten by her brother. The police track down Gorely, leading to a shootout. Ignat goes to the opera with the woman he likes.