Using his charm Sasha escapes from the jaws of a provincial ammunitions factory and joins the Moscow Theatre Institute There he meets a cast of characters more entertaining than he could find on the stage Stas, the cynical wit who becomes his companion during the next seven years in the 'Moscow underground', Adrewlka, part-time informant for the KGB, and lovely Lena Together they confront the vagaries of Soviet society, forming an underground of hope and spirit