The action takes place in a provincial town. Waking up with difficulty, he picks up the phone, but there is silence. He slowly gets up, touching his jaw, opens a window, it rains outside. Zilov drinks beer and begins to exercise with a bottle in his hands. A phone call again and silence again. Now Zilov is calling himself. He talks with the waiter Dima, with whom they were going hunting together, and is extremely surprised that Dima asks him if he will go. Zilov is interested in the details of yesterday’s scandal, which he committed in a cafe, but which he remembers very vaguely. He especially cares who yesterday went to his physiognomy.
As soon as he hangs up, there is a knock on the door. A boy comes in with a large mourning wreath on which is written: "Victor Alexandrovich Zilov, who was unforgettably untimely burnt at work from inconsolable friends." Zilov is annoyed by such a gloomy joke. He sits on the couch and begins to imagine how everything could have happened if he had really died. Then the life of the last days passes before his eyes.
The first memory. In the Nezabudka cafe, a favorite place of Zilov’s pastime, he meets with his friend Sayapin during a lunch break with his work supervisor Kushak to mark a big event - he got a new apartment.Suddenly, his mistress Vera appears. Zilov asks Vera not to advertise their relationship, takes everyone to the table, and the waiter Dima brings the ordered wine and barbecue. Zilov reminds Kushak that a housewarming party is scheduled for the evening, and he, somewhat flirting, agrees. Forced Zilov to invite Vera, who really wants this. He presents her to the boss who has just been conducting his legal spouse south, as a classmate, and Vera, with her very relaxed behavior, inspires Kushak with certain hopes.
In the evening, Zilov’s friends gather for a housewarming party. In anticipation of the guests, Galina, Zilov’s wife, dreams that everything between her and her husband will be as at the very beginning, when they loved each other. Among the gifts brought are items of hunting equipment: a knife, a bandoleer and several wooden birds used in duck hunting for replanting. Duck hunting is Zilov's biggest passion (except for women), although so far he has not managed to kill a single duck so far. According to Galina, the main thing for him is fees and conversations. But Zilov does not pay attention to ridicule.
The second memory. At the work of Zilov and Sayapin, they must urgently prepare information on the modernization of production, the flow method, etc. Zilov proposes to present as an already completed modernization project at the porcelain factory. They throw a coin for a long time, do not do. And although Sayapin is afraid of being exposed, nevertheless they are preparing this "linden". Here Zilov reads a letter from an old father who lives in another city with whom he had not seen for four years.He writes that he is sick, and calls to see, but Zilov is indifferent to this. He does not believe his father, and he still does not have time, since he is going on a duck hunt on vacation. He cannot and does not want to miss it. Suddenly, an unfamiliar girl Irina appears in their room, confusing their office with the newspaper. Zilov plays it out, introducing herself as an employee of the newspaper, until the chief who has entered exposes his joke. Zilov has an affair with Irina.
The third memory. Zilov returns home in the morning. Galina is not sleeping. He complains about the abundance of work, the fact that he was so unexpectedly sent on a business trip. But the wife says bluntly that she does not believe him, because last night a neighbor saw him in the city. Zilov tries to protest, accusing his wife of excessive suspicion, but this does not affect her. She suffered for a long time and no longer wants to endure the Zilovsky lies. She tells him that she was at the doctor and had an abortion. Zilov portrays indignation: why didn’t she consult with him ?! He is trying to somehow soften her, recalling one of the evenings six years ago, when they first became close. Galina at first protests, but then gradually succumbs to the charm of the memory - until the moment when Zilov cannot remember any words that are very important to her. In the end, she sits down on a chair and cries. The memory is as follows. At the end of the working day, an angry Kushak appears in the room of Zilov and Sayapin and demands an explanation from them about the brochure with information about the reconstruction at the porcelain factory.Barring Sayapin, who is about to get an apartment, Zilov takes full responsibility. Only suddenly appeared wife Sayapina manages to extinguish the storm, leading the simple-minded Kushak to football. At this moment, Zilov receives a telegram about the death of his father. He decides to urgently fly to catch the funeral. Galina wants to go with him, but he refuses. Before leaving, he enters the Forget-Me-Not to drink. In addition, here he has an appointment with Irina. Galina accidentally becomes a witness to their meeting, who brought Zilov a cloak and a briefcase for the trip. Zilov is forced to admit to Irina that he is married. He orders dinner, putting off the departure for tomorrow.
The memory is as follows. Galina is going to relatives in another city. As soon as she leaves, he calls Irina and calls her to her. Galina unexpectedly returns and informs that she is leaving for good. Zilov is discouraged, he tries to detain her, but Galina locks him with a key. Caught in a trap, Zilov launches all his eloquence, trying to convince his wife that she is still dear to him, and even promising to hunt. But it’s not Galina who hears his explanation, but Irina who appeared, who perceives everything Zilov said as relating specifically to her.
The last memory. In anticipation of friends invited on the occasion of the upcoming vacation and duck hunting, Zilov drinks in Forget-Me-Not. By the time friends gather, he is already quite drunk and begins to tell them nasty things. With every minute he diverges more and more, carries him, and in the end everything, including Irina, whom he also undeservedly insults, leaves. Left alone, Zilov calls the waiter Dima a lackey, and he hits him in the face.Zilov falls under the table and "turns off." After some time, Kuzakov and Sayapin return, pick up Zilov and take him home.
Recalling everything, Zilov actually really lights up with the thought to commit suicide. He is no longer playing. He writes a note, charges the gun, takes off his shoes and gropes the trigger with his big toe. At this moment, a phone rings. Then Sayapin and Kuzakov quietly appear, who see Zilov’s preparations, pounce on him and take their gun away. Zilov drives them. He screams that he does not believe anyone, but they refuse to leave him alone. In the end, Zilov manages to expel them, he walks around the room with a gun, then throws himself on the bed and either laughs or weeps. Two minutes later he gets up and dials Dima's phone number. He is ready to go hunting.
