The novice writer Vasil Safonov and his friend, the cashier Apollon Kazachkov, become regular guests at the local casino. Their gambling habits lead them to unwittingly squander state funds. Initially, Kazachkov manages to return the wasted money, but his passion for gambling consumes him, and he loses every penny. This leads to his arrest, leaving Safonov in a desperate situation. Soviet youth, including Muscovite Reztsov and the Komsomol girl Marusya Kostova, come together to help Safonov find his way back on the right path.