During the good old days of the Russian aristocracy, that is to say, before the October Revolution, in the city of Moscow there was a fancy restaurant which catered to the appetites and egos of the rich. In one such establishment works a middle-aged waiter who is devoted to serving his bourgeoisie clients correctly. However, his life outside his job is very different: His son was killed during the Russian civil war and the waiter's wife died of grief as a result....

Действие фильма происходит перед революцией. Судьба загоняет в беспросветную нищету официанта столичного ресторана Скороходова. На фронте гибнет его сын, умирает жена, дочь исключают из гимназии за неуплату. Одну из комнат своей убогой квартирки Скороходов решает сдать скромному молодому человеку — курьеру военно-промышленного комитета Соколину.