ddd Moscow,1902.ThefamousdirectorKonstantinStanislavsky,insearchofinspirationforstaginganewplay,decidestogetacquaintedwiththelifeofthecity"bottom".HeturnstoVladimirGilyarovsky,arecognizedexpertontheMoscowslums,forhelp.TogethertheygotothelegendarybanditKhitrovkaandfindthemselvesembroiledintheinvestigationofthemurderofamysteriouslocalresident-anIndianSikhwithadarkpast.
