The story of four friends - Seryozha, Nina, Joseph and Evgenia, who live in Moscow near Chistye Prudy. School is over - and in their favorite gazebo they dream of the future, swear allegiance to each other and promise to meet each other in twenty years. The war begins. Joseph goes to the militia, Evgenia becomes a pilot. Seryozha receives lieutenant's shoulder straps and also goes to the front. Ahead of them are battles, concussion, hospital, work in the newspaper and terrible news.