Wacław Kaczmarski has been breeding pigeons for many years, which is a family tradition (his grandfather and father bred pigeons before him). The birds are an important part of his life; he spends every free moment with them, and they are his escape from everyday worries. Kaczmarski and his family live in Targówek in old apartments that are scheduled for demolition. He gets a new apartment in Ursynów, where he immediately installs pigeon boxes on the balcony. The neighbors are outraged.