Its harvest season and Lomov has come visiting to his neighbours' Uncle Stephanovich. Dressed elaborately in a party suit and bow tie, with a bouquet of flowers in hand, Lomov has a ceremonial air as he steps into the living room. The initially skeptical Stephanovich soon warms to the young man as he learns of his intentions - Lomo has come to seek the hand of Natalia, Stephanovich's daughter!

Overjoyed for words, Stephanovich ushers Natalia into the house to bade Lomov welcome. The twosome, neighbours and friends for long presently engage themselves in conversation. Courteous pleasantries on the weather, the season, the rains soon give way to gentle disagreements over trifles. And what begins as a difference of opinion slowly but surely takes the shape of a heated argument.

'The Lomovs have always been madmen'
'Your Mother was a cripple, wasn't she?'
'And your Grandpa - why, he was a drunkard!'
'Isn't it true your Aunt ran away with someone?'

Insinuations fly thick and fast as the two are by now thoroughly at loggerheads. Old Stephanovich who's called in to pacify things too finds himself drawn into the debate. At the end of which the two neighbours, cordial and friendly hereuntil, are at each other's throats. A disgusted Stephanovich bundles Lomov out of the house swearing at him to get out and stay out.

Following the outburst however, Natalia has a change of heart on learning of Lomov's true intent in coming. In a swift about turn, Lomov is welcomed back into the house as guest. The warmth is short lived again, as the couple seems to agree on nothing at all. Amid the confusion, old Stephanovich holds their hands together solemnly, and declares them man and wife! Running up to the attic he has a swig of vodka, his eyes glinting in amusement at the scene below.

The camera leaves us with a light hearted irony - old Stephanovich rejoicing at drink, while his daughter and her husband prance about below in continued argument. 'Here's to family living!' he seems to say.