Based on a Russian folk tale, the film follows Dereza, a talented but lazy goat who disrupts an old man's peaceful household by cunningly manipulating him against his family—until her true nature is revealed.
They all lived happily together until the old man brought home a goat named Dereza, who he had taken in for free from a train station after she told him tales of her cruel former owner.
The old man felt sorry for Dereza and took her home, but soon the goat started manipulating him, pretending to be pitiful and subtly turning him against the other housemates.
One night, Dereza decided to chase Kiryusha the rooster out of the house, crowing loudly and creating chaos.
Out in the meadow, Dereza sang a song to the other goats about how wonderful her life was in the cottage and hinted that once she drove out the old couple, she would invite them all to live with her there.