The beginning of the 80s. Three inseparable friends live in Leningrad: Sashka Kunitsyn, Roman Krylov and Ashot Nikoghosyan. To all three - up to thirty. All three are "hypocrites." Sashka is a “ballerun” at the Kirov Theater, Roman is an actor at Lenfilm, Ashot sings, plays, deftly imitates Marcel Marceau.
They are different, and at the same time very similar. From childhood, Sasha conquered the girls with his “okay, grace, ability to be charming”. Foes consider him arrogant, but at the same time he is ready to "give the last shirt." Ashot is not beautiful, but the innate artistry and plastic make him beautiful. He says very well, he is the founder of all plans. The novel is sarcastic and sharp on the tongue. On the screen, he is ridiculous, often tragic. There is something Chaplinsky in it.
In their free time they are always together. They are brought together by a "certain search for their own way." They blaspheme the Soviet system no more than others, but "the damned question, how to counter dogmas that press on you from all sides, stupidity, one-linearity", requires some kind of answer. In addition, success must be achieved - no friend suffers from lack of ambition. So they live. From morning to evening - rehearsals, performances, filming, and then they meet and ease the soul, arguing about art, talent, literature, painting and much more.
Sasha and Ashot live with their mothers, Roman - alone. Friends always help each other, including money. They are called the "Three Musketeers." Women exist in their lives, but they are kept somewhat aloof. Ashot has love - a Frenchwoman, Henriett, who "internships at Leningrad University." Ashot is about to marry her.
Sashka and Ashot rush about with the idea of putting Gogol's “Overcoat”, in which Sashka should play Akaky Akakievich. In the midst of this work, overseas tours are “falling” onto Sasha. He flies to Canada. Sasha is very successful there and decides to seek asylum. Roman and Ashot are completely at a loss, they cannot reconcile with the thought that their friend did not say a word about their plans. Ashot often visits Sashkin’s mother - Vera Pavlovna. She still waits for a letter from her son, but Sasha doesn’t write and only once gives her a parcel with a bright knitted sweater, some small things and a big one - a “miracle of printing” - an album - “Alexandre Kunitsyn”. Ashot will soon marry Henriett. After some time, they and Ashot's mother, Ranush Akopovna, are given permission to leave: to live in Russia, despite the love of everything Russian, Henriett is very difficult. Despite the fact that Roman remains alone, he approves of Ashot's act. The last picture of Roman fell on the shelf, and he believes that it is impossible to live in this country. Ashot insanely does not want to part with his beloved city.
In Paris, Ashot gets a job as a sound engineer on television. Soon, Sasha performs in Paris. Ashot comes to the concert. Sasha is magnificent, the audience gives him a standing ovation. Ashot manages to break through the wings. Sasha is very pleased with him, but there are a lot of people around, and
friends agree that Ashot will call Sasha at the hotel the next morning. But Ashot fails to get through: the phone does not answer. Sasha himself does not call. When Ashot arrives at the hotel after work, the receptionist informs him that Monsieur Kunitsyn has left. Ashot cannot understand Sasha.
Ashot gradually becomes accustomed to French life. He lives quite closed - work, home, books, TV. She eagerly reads Akhmatova, Tsvetaeva, Bulgakov, Platonov, which you can easily buy in a store, watching the classics of Western cinema. Although Ashot becomes like a Frenchman, “all their elections and discussions in parliament” do not touch him. One fine day, Romka Krylov appears on the threshold of Ashot. He managed to come to the Cannes Festival as a consultant for his own money, and he did this because he really wanted to see Ashot. Three days, friends walk around Paris, remember the past. The novel says that he managed to hold the Soviet Minister of Culture and "drag", in essence, an "anti-Soviet" film. Roman is leaving.
Sasha appears soon, who flies to Ceylon, but the flight is delayed in Paris. Before Ashot, Sashka is still the same, who is “executed" because of what he did. Ashot understands that he cannot be angry with him. But the fact that Sashka is now talking about art is so much rational. Ashot recalls the "Overcoat", while Sashka claims that the rich American "ballet fans" do not need the "Overcoat." Ashot is upset that Sashka never asks about his “material well-being”.
Friends do not meet again. The film of Roman is not without success passes through the country. The novel envies Ashot because in his life there is no “Soviet mura”. Ashotik is jealous of Roman because there is “struggle, acuteness, victory” in his life. Henriett is expecting a baby. Sasha lives in New York in a six-room apartment, tours, he constantly has to make important decisions.
From the publisher. While the text of the story was being typed, Ashot was delivered a telegram from Sashka with a request to immediately fly to him. “Costs are paid,” the telegram said.
