 Film is set in the Soviet Union during perestroika in late 1980s. Important file is stolen from archives. Stealing is done by Ozerov, who wants to sell it on the black market. For that reason Ozerov gives it to the dealer - Barabanshchikov. All this is discovered by archivist Platonov, who dies of a heart attack after such a shock. Meanwhile dealer Barabanshchikov is hiding the file on the rooftop of a tall Chirch. Barabanshchikov falls down and dies. Colonel Kornilov is investigating this crime and comes to a conclusion, that the crime is caused by degradation of social environment in the rapidly changing Soviet Union.