A Russian nobleman Fyodor Vasilievich Protasov can’t put up with hypocrisy of the world around him, but he can’t do anything to fight it. He begins to drink, leaves his house and sinks gradually. Protasov’s behavior facilitates his wife to get closer to her old friend, Victor Karenin. Being unable to accept the lies and humiliation connected with the future divorce process, Fedya fakes his suicide and as it seems, leaves his family forever. It becomes known that Fedya Protasov is alive only due to an accident. Liza, who put up with her husband’s death and married Karenin, is called to the court on a charge of bigamy. In order to stop a silly and lying court comedy and save the innocent people from humiliation, Protasov shoots himself.