Volodya Korolyov, a second-form gymnasium student, arrives home for Christmas holidays, causing uproar and joy in the house. He is accompanied by his school friend Chechevitsyn. Very soon Volodya's sisters Katya, Sonya and Masha start to notice peculiarities in the boys' behavior. Both are absent-minded, look mysterious, rarely answer questions properly and if speak at all, then with enigmatic one-liners, like 'In California they drink gin instead of tea.'