The shrill and tragic story about an event that involved Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. In an infantry regiment of the military based in the Tula region an offence occurs. In this regiment, the capital's lieutenant Grigory Kolokoltsev - inspired by progressive ideas - does his service. A military tribunal and execution await the soldier charged with the offence. Kolokoltsev asks Count Tolstoy for help - and he decides to protect the innocent man. The pointed history about the complexity of choice and fidelity to one's ideals is based on real events.