On Krochmalna Street in a small Jewish community, a young boy lives across the hall from an elderly couple who are well known for their great and long love. To the shock of the entire community, the couple suddenly announce that they will be getting a divorce, and ask the boy’s father to arrange it. The old woman then approaches the boy’s mother and reveals that her husband will marry a much younger, orphaned woman with whom he can still have children. Rather than being upset, the old woman is delighted to share this news, and explains that she will sacrifice anything to bring him happiness. After she hears the truth, the boy’s mother is furious at the old man and tries to dissuade the old woman. She tells her husband not to arrange the divorce, because it will set a terrible example and disrespect all women in the community. The father meets with the couple to discuss the divorce once again, and the old woman is most vocal with her support, and pushes for her husband’s remarriage. Once the day for the divorce and wedding are set, the entire community is set ablaze with the news. People begin to split over the matter, and women especially are angry and confused by the old woman, who happily advertises what is supposed to be her shame. It is later revealed by the old man in secret to the boy’s father that the entire divorce and marriage was planned by his wife. She forced him into the matter, and argues that the girl was a poor orphan. In the lead-up to the wedding, the couple arrange their cemetery spots together, and the old woman makes plans to help the new wife when a baby would come. On the day of divorce, the old woman comes dressed up and in high spirits. Unlike his wife, the old man is dejected during the divorce. He later goes through with the new marriage too, and gossip about the divorced couple eventually dies down. The boy reveals that he does not know exactly what became of the strange trio, but a new baby is never born and the old man grows ill and passes away, followed by his former wife.