Chasing Two Hares

In late 19th-century Kyiv, Svyryd Petrovych Holokhvosty is forced to close his barber shop after going bankrupt. To settle his debts, he schemes to marry Pronya, the rich but unrefined daughter of Mr. Sirko. He even engineers a loan from a German creditor to finance the courtship.

While showing off his new suit to friends in the park, Svyryd catches sight of the beautiful Halya. He flirts briefly before being chased away by her would-be boyfriend, Stepan. The encounter plants the seed of a rival love interest for him.

That evening, Svyryd takes Pronya to the movies and pretends to be sincerely in love. He makes a false confession of affection to seal the sham engagement. The deception marks the start of his double game between Pronya and his desires.

Later that night, Svyryd encounters Halya in an alley and makes a forced, but false, confession of love, pretending to be a wealthy suitor. Halya's mother, Sekleta Lymerykha, arrives and thwarts the moment, threatening him and forcing a sworn obligation to marry Halya on the steps of Saint Andrew's Church.

The next day, Sekleta intrudes into Sirko's sister's home, insulting the family and being summarily thrown out. Svyryd arrives to seek the Sirkos' blessing for Pronya, narrowly avoiding Sekleta during the tense confrontation. The exchange deepens the family pressure surrounding the match.

Svyryd later encounters Sekleta and is forced into sharing an open carriage to her house for Sekleta's name day celebration. Guests begin arriving hours later to join the festivity. During the party, Svyryd flirts with Sister Meroniya, a pretty nun, and gets her to drink.

During the celebration, Sekleta publicly announces the engagement of Halya and Svyryd. Halya's heart belongs to Stepan, and she is reluctant to accept the sham match. The revelation unsettles the guests and foreshadows the mounting complications.

As the festivities wind down, Sekleta notes that Halya and Pronya are cousins, complicating the engagement further. Halya runs to her beloved Stepan, who confirms Svyryd's deceit and allegiance to a false fortune. The social web tightens around Svyryd's fraud.

On the wedding day, curious friends of Sekleta discover Pronya is indeed marrying Svyryd, triggering public doubt. A black cat crosses Svyryd's path, causing him to stumble and soil his wedding attire. Sekleta intercedes on the steps of Saint Andrew's Church to reveal Svyryd's true engagement with Halya.

As the ceremony stalls, Pronya collapses in shock at the revelation. Svyryd tries to walk away, but Sekleta stops him and demands that he now marry Halya instead. The crowd reels from the sudden turn of events and the mounting public exposure of the fraud.

Before any remaining plans can proceed, creditors and bill collectors appear with proof that Svyryd is bankrupt. The financial truth shatters any possibility of a respectable match with Pronya or Halya. He leaves the scene with his friends, escaping the consequences for the moment.