American TV journalist Meryl Folley goes to Russia in search of a scientist-endocrinologist, Pashtyrian, who created the elixir of love by which he repelled any woman, despite his modest, balding appearance. With the filing of a familiar grouse, she appeals to a former non-recruiting paratrooper who was awarded a battle order, a party member, a university graduate, a merchant, and a "zec" who sat for tearing his neighbor's dachshund, Pashi Ivanov drunk from unhappy love, and he clearly needs an elixir. Despite alcohol abuse, he is still a man.