Trouble In Store

The director's office of the store "Birch" Anilin has "uninvited guests." On his desk are two thousand dollars, which he barely managed to cover with a folder. Task Force K.G.B. delays Anilin. At this time, the almost all-powerful director of the Elissevsky deli Berkutov begins his usual day with a detour of the Commerce Department, the City Committee of the Party and other high-ranking offices.

From the old criminal case, we learn that George Berkutov was serving a sentence for a term of 6 months in 1959 for three rubles of uncollected money. This happened during his work as a taxi driver, when he succumbed to the provocation of an O.B.K.H.S.S. worker. After being released in a taxi, he did not return, but got a job as a loader at the Elissevskiy grocery store.

The first secretary of the Moscow City Committee, V. Grishin, understands what Berkutov threatens Anilina with. He is trying to protect Berkutov and, in a conversation with Leonid Brezhnev, he carefully states the essence of the matter. Meanwhile, General Kultakov is putting pressure on Skachko and demanding to beat out Anilina with dirt on Berkutov.

Berkutov and Zoya are alarmed by Shirshov's visit to the store. Shirshov offers Bokov and Skachko "to wash the car." Bokov and Skachko explain to Shirshov why he couldn't come to the Yeliseyevsky deli. In the Uzbekistan restaurant, in the office where Arimin likes to rest, who was released from prison, a wiretap is established.

Arimin hung himself in a cell on a torn blanket. Kultakov is angry because the thread that stretched to Berkutov broke. Masha is once again alone at home, at a laid table in vain waiting for her husband. In front of the window the faithful knight is on duty - Anton. And Masha is figured out.

Lida and Berkutov spend, perhaps, their last happy and peaceful moments together. Meanwhile, in the premises of Eliseevsky "bugs" is established. Zoya is trying to bribe the chairman of the Kostroma City Executive Committee. But he refuses: in the light of recent events, it becomes dangerous. He tells Zoe that Arimin hung himself in prison.

Berkutov omplains to Lida about his poor health and asks to do without him at work. Lida calls him a simulator and leaves. Berkutov drinks brandy and talks to his daughter. Zoya tells Skachko that she does not know about any of the machinations of Berkutov, and if she knew, she'd stay silent.

Kostya comes to Berkutov's home. Anya opens up to him. They meet and talk. Kostya brought the money that Berkutov gave him before his arrest, but Anya did not take the money and is forced to leave.