The film comprises four novellas: (1) “From Boredom”. A wealthy matron, bored with life, embarks on a romance with her children’s romantic tutor. (2) “Nerves”. Haunted by tales of the supernatural, Vaksin can’t sleep and is found in the morning napping on the governess’s chest. (3) “The Avenger”. A husband plans to kill his unfaithful wife but abandons the plot when he dreads the punishment to come. (4) “The Proposal”. A tragicomic matchmaking tale of landowner Lomov wooing his neighbor’s daughter.