Maslov and the Governor get into the hospital, while Nikita tries to stealthily get the former out of the hospital. Ira reads books to distract himself from Artemy's absence, but makes things worse for himself.

A week later Maslov returns to the village. He asks the governor to let him spend his last evening in Zhuky in peace. Dina thinks how best to tell Denis about the imminent replenishment. Artemy plans to remarry Ira.