In the youth cafe "Comet" the poet reads poetry. Girl-visitor praises poetry. For a guy sitting nearby, this becomes a reason for acquaintance. The girl's name is Natasha. The guy introduces himself as Evdokimov. He understands what Natasha likes.
The next day they again go to the Comet. At night, leaving the cafe, they try to catch a taxi for Natasha. She is a stewardess, and in the morning she needs to get on a plane. Evdokimov persuades the girl to come to him, call a taxi by phone. He finally calls his name: Electron.
Natasha leaves Evdokimov only in the morning. They make an appointment. Only after her departure Evdokimov notices a note. Natasha writes that it is no longer necessary to meet.
Evdokimov works at a research institute. His colleagues and peers are Vladik and Galya Ostretsov. They are in love with each other. Galya calls Vladik under the guise of a "stranger." The team leader Semenov gives permission for the experience developed by Evdokimov.
Navigator Leva Kartsev is not indifferent to Natasha, but she does not give him hope for reciprocity. Natasha knows that another stewardess, Ira, loves Leva. Natasha meets with Evdokimov. They go to the zoo. And again, Natasha remains with him to spend the night. And the next morning, when she returns home, her mother kicks her out. Natasha’s friend, hairdresser Lilka, calls her to live with her, but Natasha does not agree. Lilka is pregnant and wants to name the child Electron.
The experience of Evdokimov will be conducted the other day. In the same place, in the research institute, Felix - Natashina "first love" works. He tells Electron that his mother kicked Natasha out of the house. Evdokimov should not be absent from work, but his date with Natasha is on fire. And he leaves, despite the discontent of Semyonov.
And Natasha at that time in Tashkent. They are not given a departure. She calls Evdokimov from a hotel room. Ira is sleeping nearby. Kartsev comes in to talk with Natasha, but she firmly lets him know that she does not love him. Ira, of course, heard everything. Having learned about Kartsev’s feelings for Natasha, she cannot hide her resentment against her friend, jealousy. Natasha is not angry. She tells Ira the story of her life. Natasha suspects that she is just “entertainment” for Evdokimov.
Visiting Evdokimov, Natasha says that she cheated on him in Tashkent. They decide to leave. Evdokimov escorts the girl "for the last time," but in the subway she hints to him that she lied, speaking of treason. Evdokimov repents that he hastened to believe her. Natasha is offended, but still forgives him. Together they go to a restaurant. Evdokimov escorts Natasha to the plane.
Semenov freed Galya Ostretsova from experience. But she went to the Alpha for the modes and found that the upcoming experience was very dangerous. Galya persuades Evdokimov not to take Vladik's experience. Evdokimov recalls that Galya used to love him, but she was afraid that “things could go far.” He reproaches Galya with excessive rationality.
On the eve of the experiment, Vlad has a party. Evdokimov and Natasha come, then another friend, Petya Halperin, and Felix. Felix asks Evdokimov to accept him in his department, but he refuses. Felix talks about his life failures. Evdokimov is not sorry for him: he believes that everything happened through Felix's own fault. When Felix leaves, Natasha accuses Evdokimov of inability to pity people. They quarrel, and Natasha leaves.
Evdokimov at home. He is going to experience. His mother and stepfather are returning from the south. When Evdokimov goes down, he discovers that Natasha was waiting for him in the front door. He is leaving for Alpha, and she needs to fly to Brussels. The experience was successful. Evdokimov is happy. He and Vladik are standing at the Dynamo metro station, waiting for Natasha. For the first time, Evdokimov bought flowers for her. Ira comes. She explains that on the plane where Natasha flew, "something caught fire." Natasha "let out passengers and did not have time ...". After that, Ira says, Natasha lived for another two hours. She asked to convey to Evdokimov that "the main thing is endurance."
Ira is leaving. Evdokimov and Vladik sit still on the bench until morning. The stick-up girl seals up old posters, leaving only one: the stewardess with a raised hand.
