[1][2] In the late 19th century Kyiv, a frivolous barber named Svyryd Petrovych Holokhvosty (Oleg Borisov) goes bankrupt and is forced to close his shop.

Upon learning that a Mr. Sirko (Mykola Yakovenko) is offering a dowry of ten thousand roubles for his unrefined and unattractive daughter, Pronya (Marharyta Krynytsyna), Svyryd decides to pay his debts by marrying her.

While showing off his new suit to friends in the park on Saint Volodymyr Hill, he sees and briefly flirts with the beautiful Halya (Nataliya Naum) before being chased away by her would be boyfriend, Stepan (Anatoliy Yurchenko).

Sekleta threatens him and makes him swear on the steps of Saint Andrew's Church to marry Halya whose heart actually belongs to Stepan.

Sekleta laments that none of her relatives stopped by to visit on the special occasion which leads Svyryd to realize that Pronya and Halya are cousins!

A black cat crosses Svyryd's path on his way to Pronya's door, and he immediately trips and falls into the dirt, soiling and tearing his wedding attire.