Synopsis
Today is a big day for Mishka Krapivin. He's marrying Tania Simakova, his childhood sweetheart, unworried by the fact that she is returning home burdened with mysteries after a few years spent working as a model in Moscow.As it happens, today is also the day when the citizens' wages arrive. Nobody has been paid for six months, but everybody has to wait their turn on the town square, knowing there isn't enough money to go round and all wanting to get in there first.
None of the Krapivin family welcomes the wedding. Mishka's father, a local hero smothered with Communist medals, anxiously watches the guest list grow, seeing every last kopeck of his long-awaited pension going to feed them. Meanwhile, Mishka's grandfather spreads baleful rumours about the "creature" joining the family and Mishka's mother sobs over her son's dismal fate.
Mishka has only one thing on his mind: buying his bride a wedding present, but his dad grabs all his money to pay for the feast. His workmates respond to this injustice by passing the hat to raise enough for Mishka to buy a present. To keep it from his father's clutches, he gives the money to his good old friend Garkusha for safe-keeping. Unfortunately Garkusha sees life through the bottom of a vodka bottle and promptly blows Mishka's roubles on a boozing spree.
Thanks to his sister's modest savings and the goodwill of the flower vendors at the market, Mishka is finally able to buy his bride a bouquet. He happily goes to her house to present it, only to find that he has a powerful rival for Tania's affections ...
