1973. A talented pianist Slava Zhukov fails the exams at the Moscow Conservatory and returns to his native Tomsk. At the same time, a bandit named Mute arrives in the city to establish contact with local criminal structures. The goal of Muscovites-to establish a" supply " of antique icons. Honest Colonel Zhukov interferes with the bandits, and the Mute kills him. Together with her husband, Slava's mother dies. In survivors remains the younger brother, hidden in the chamber. Slava does not sleep at home that night. Having learned about the tragedy, he gives his word to find the killers.
Six years later, police Lieutenant Zhukov returned to his hometown to begin service. On the first task, he goes with a colleague Elena Maltseva, who is looking for underground producers of alcohol. At the dance, protecting his partner, Slava gets into a fight, during which he acquires a new friend-the musician Pate. At this time in Moscow the police officer Alex Gray sets the address of a Silent but a bandit kills him. The investigation turns out to be the only evidence-a scrap of newspaper with notes. The criminologist partially restores the note, the address on it leads to Tomsk. Major Shchukin gives Tomsk colleagues a tip on the Mute.
Grachev chastises Maltsev and Zhukov for the riots on the dance floor and for disrupting the operation. Zhukov takes the blame, but immediately shows the label of counterfeit whiskey, the supply of which comes from the restaurant "North". Slava offers a special operation, for which he will get a job in a restaurant ensemble. And still he requests Lena take on time from archive deal about murder of his parents. Shchukin understands: to implement a criminal plan of this level, a special brain and special capabilities are needed. Of all the owners of cars, the numbers of which resemble the number on a scrap of newspaper, most of all this figure pulls the famous pop singer Arkady Zolotarevsky.
Grachev is informed that five corpses were found at the sawmill. On handwriting killings Shchukin understands, that not for good reason had flown in Tomsk — Dumb now here. An operation is being prepared to capture the Mute in the restaurant "North", where at the same time Zhukov and Maltseva plan to arrest the suppliers of "burnt" alcohol. But the Mute manages to get away again. Warbler saves the life of high. Shchukin requests his personal file and finds information about the murder of his parents in it. From Grachev Slavka learns about the unexpected transfer to Moscow. Returning from Tomsk Mute reports to the Librarian that the job is done.
Shchukin tells Slavka, who came to Moscow, about the Mute and the gang taking out the most valuable works of art abroad. Shchukin believes that Slavka's father in 1973 attacked her trail and paid with his life. Shchukin devotes Warbler in the plans to get him to Arcadia Zolotarevsky. To do this, Zhukov must gather his musical team. Slavka listens to musicians. He takes Pashtet as a drummer.
Mute in the pub meets with Jean's foreign partner. In the antique shop, where the underground laboratory is located, Genet buys a stolen and" rewritten " picture with all the accompanying documents by the Professor and safely transports it through customs. VIA "Masquerade" in full goes to his first concert, which ends in a fight. Shchukin is watching from the side of what is happening — it was he who gave the guys such a check.
Shchukin gives Mukhin the task to compile a complete list of declared icons and paintings exported from the country over the past year, as well as catalogs of auctions at which they were sold. He himself goes to the employee "moskontsert" Eatery, arranging "left" performances. In exchange for freedom, he must select VIA "Masquerade" to record the teleconference. The main task of the guys — to get into the confidence of Zolotarevsky.Owl wants to give the Librarian a Artist's painting of Vermeer, which he learned from a former convict, sitting with a Museum employee. Before his death, he told about the stolen painting from the Museum.
New musicians of the Zolotarevsky becomes VIA "Masquerade". In the apartment of the singer Slavka sees Olga, with whom he had an affair at the time of admission. Right now the girl's name is Rita. Shchukin with Mukhin compares the size of the exported paintings and icons from the list with the stolen and sold at Western auctions. Shchukin suggests that officially exported paintings, which are not of particular value, abroad strangely turned into stolen masterpieces. He's sure it was the same man — Alain Jean.
Slavka informs Shchukin that "Masquerade" is going on tour in Gorky. Lena, who came to Slavka in Moscow, sees how the unknown tries to get into their apartment. She calls the police, the signal goes to Shchukin. He understands that this is a test.
In the Museum workshop, Zotov paints Vermeer blue and takes him out under the guise of a painting he brought in the morning. Shchukin and Mukhin follow Zhane, who arrived at the antique store. When the Frenchman leaves the store with a purchase, the black "Volga" takes him. Mute takes Vermeer from Zotov, who is later found hanged. On next day Not my follows those, as Mukhin leads in "Antiques" brigade detectives, but find nothing not manages. The frightened antiquary passes Mukhin's phone number to the Mute. Night Mute is to the widow and kills.
Shchukin and new operative Valera arrive at a sealed antique shop and discovers an underground workshop. As soon as they open the door, there is an explosion. VIA "Masquerade" is in a country boarding house, which rented Owl to punish Arkasha. At night, Owl people drown Rita in the bathroom. Friends phone calls straight from and reports that a girl was killed by a Owl. Shchukin requests materials on Owl. Zolotarevsky comes to the Mute in Sokolniki and blames the death of Rita.
Arkady calls Slavka to talk and points a gun at him. Slavka is forced to admit that he is a COP assigned to watch him. Zolotarevsky promises to extradite accomplices, but demands guarantees from Slavkin's superiors. He says that a big deal is being prepared with Vermeer, on which he will be a courier. But this does not happen — Zolotarevsky rushes from the balcony... Slavka turns out to have Arkady's notebook with the names of people associated with smuggling. Among other names and surnames he sees record: 1973, Tomsk, Grachev Gennady Ivanovich.
In Tomsk, Slavka, having stunned Grachev, takes him to a secluded place for a conversation. He demands to surrender the Mute. When Grachev realizes that Slavka recorded his confession on a tape recorder, he rushes at him. In the fight Grachev falls on the pin. Janet meets with Mute and insists that the painting be in Europe by the end of the month. The operation to remove Vermeer goes to the last stage. Slava should take Zolotarevsky's place. He manages to convince the mute That he is just a musician who wants to earn money and go West.
The Professor shows the Librarian two absolutely identical guitar cases, with which they are going to take out the picture.
Popular singer Hawkville arrives in the Union. The task of "Masquerade" is to perform so that he wants to record a song with them. At night, Stella arrives with Hawkville and receives a poster of VIA Masquerade from Janet at the hotel.
Hoquil the next morning, accompanied by Stella and Poppy, sitting on the audition for the Philharmonic. The musicians coming on stage bore him. VIA "Masquerade" sings Slavkin song "Time". Soviet officials are in shock. But Hoquil catches up with the rebels: they are what he needs.
