In communist Russia, a celebrated Ukrainian poet makes a political joke. He is confronted by Mikhail, a state official, at Uhly, where spring snowmelt has submerged the town. Mikhail informs the poet that he has transgressed against the Communist Party. The poet does not recall the joke and asks Mikhail to recite it. Mikhail, however, cannot recite it, as it was redacted from the poet’s file for its offensive nature. Mikhail tells the poet that he must write an apology letter to close his file. The poet invites Mikhail to a reading, where he will demonstrate his ideological purity to the official. Over the next several days, Mikhail uses “gentle intimidation”—light stalking—to encourage the poet to write an apology. On the fifth day, Mikhail attends the poet’s reading and transcribes some of his poetry. At the end of the reading, the poet recites canonical Russian poetry and quizzes his audience on the authors’ names. After reciting a poem by Lenin, the poet calls on Mikhail to guess the author’s identity. Mikhail fails to guess it correctly. Mikhail begins to suspect that the poet’s wife is following him while he stalks the poet. He also begins to suspect that his mission to get the poet to write an apology letter is a test to vet him for a higher government position with the Honor Guard in Moscow, where he thinks his parents were assigned. He thinks that the poet's wife is his superior, and that she is in charge of assessing him. Mikhail begins to stalk the poet more intensely, even helping the poet with his chores to impress his potential assessor. One day, Mikhail, the poet, and the poet’s wife enjoy alcohol, sprats, and banter. The three get along nicely, but Mikhail’s performance at his usual work duties declines. While Mikhail watches the poet watch a film at the theater, the poet’s wife tells him to meet at midnight to receive the apology letter.  When they meet, the poet’s wife threatens Mikhail with a sword, ties him up, and gags him. She reveals that her parents were taken away as political prisoners, and takes her anger out as revenge against Mikhail for working for the state. Mikhail realizes he is not being held for promotion to the Honor Guard. The poet’s wife tortures Mikhail with the sword and hot wax, and then she releases Mikhail, who asks the poet’s wife what the joke was. She recites the joke, which, it turns out, was not even that funny.