Yet, his life spirals when Larisa abruptly leaves him, prompting Pavel to escape his sorrow by resigning from his job and moving to Mount Elbrus to work as a ski instructor.
During his time at the ski resort, Pavel encounters Elena Vladimirovna, a married woman among his students, who develops romantic feelings for him.
Meanwhile, another student, Slava Pugachyov, learns to ski to impress a foreign businessman and confides in Pavel about a woman in Moscow who recently fell for him.
As the season draws to a close, Pavel’s editor invites him back to his job, marking the beginning of his return to Moscow.
Pavel resumes life with his mother and his job at the editorial office, until his editor introduces him to a foreign businessman hosting a tennis tournament, planning an interview.