After the death of her father, Antonina Staroselskaya has difficulty finding work. A dull life is the cause of illness. A merchant seaman takes care of the sick Tona. After the marriage, he is arrested for smuggling, and the care of Tonya is transferred to a neighbor, who beats her from time to time. A chance meeting with the builders of a residential area awakens the desire to be closer to people, to become needed by someone - and Tonya comes to the construction site...