Once in an orphanage, nine-year-old Oraz finds a friend in the person of teacher Dovlat. In the hungry post-war years, Dovlat does everything to prevent children from suffering. One day, having caught the cook Izyumgul stealing, he brings trouble upon himself: in order to avoid being put on trial, Izyumgul spreads slanderous rumors about the teacher. Dovlat goes to prison, and the cook becomes the director of the orphanage. Forty years pass, and Oraz is invited to Izyumgul’s anniversary....