Veronika and Boris come together in Moscow shortly before World War II. Walking along the river, they watch cranes fly overhead, and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family, into the company of a cousin with his own intentions.

叶莲娜（玛丽娜·涅约洛娃 Marina Neyolova 饰）是一位数学老师，整日里独来独往，非常的忧郁和孤独。这一天是叶莲娜的生日，她从来都没有想过会有什么人来为自己庆祝这个生日，然而，当夜，四个学生敲响了她的房门。他们带着鲜花和美酒，真挚的祝福着他们的老师。然而，叶莲娜觉得四人的举动始终有些怪异。 果不其然，这四人令有他们自己的目的，他们的目的就是请求叶莲娜将存放期末考试考卷的保险箱钥匙交出来，好让他们交换考的不理想的考卷。作为一名教师，叶莲娜果断的拒绝了这一请求，四人从一开始的苦苦哀求，到之后的态度逐渐强硬，悲剧就这样发生了。