The story unfolds in the first postwar year of 1946. The country was gripped by widespread hunger, poverty, quality and standard of living continued to "kill" the population. Law enforcement agencies are obliged to ensure the safety and inviolability of state bread, which means the application of extreme measures - arrest for 10 years or execution.

Captain Gnat Belov returns home after the service. On the train, he meets the criminal Sich, whom he has known since childhood. Many years ago, Sich and his young accomplices involved little Gnat in robbing a warehouse with stew. It turned out that Gnat rescued the Owl, who was trapped, but then their paths diverged. The owl is happy to meet and offers Gnat to take another risk, but he refuses. Suspecting that the "buddy" has planned something, Gnat decides to stop him ...