The action takes place in Sweden, in the count's, a manor in the kitchen on the night of Ivan Kupala, when, according to popular tradition, all class frames are temporarily canceled among those celebrating this religious and magic holiday. Kristina, a thirty-five-year-old cook, stands at the stove, preparing a potion for a sick mistress. Jean, a thirty-year-old footman in a livery, enters the kitchen. He is not a Frenchman, but a Swede, but he knows how to speak French, because at one time he worked at a large Swiss hotel in Lucerne: out of love for a foreigner, he changed his original name Jan.

Jean had just come from dances that courtyards and peasants had arranged on the threshing floor: he was dancing - who would Christine think with? - with Julia herself, the count's daughter! She, apparently, completely lost her head: otherwise, even if to Ivan Kupala, she would not have danced with a footman. Recently, the young lady generally seems to be out of her mind. Most likely, this is due to a break with her fiancé. Jean himself saw how Julia at the stable made him jump over the whip like a little dog. She shot him two times, but he didn’t wait for the third - he took the whip from her, broke his pen and was like that! And today too. Why didn’t Freken Julia go with her count to relatives and stay home alone?

Julia enters the kitchen. Is the brew ready for the dog? Ah, here is Jean! Does he want to dance again? Christina has nothing to fear: he, surely, will not beat her groom!

Jean and Julia leave and come back after a while. Julia praises the lackey's agility: he dances quite well! But why is he in livery? It is a holiday today. Let him put on a frock coat! He is shy? The footman should not be shy about his mistress! Syurtuk perfectly sits on it. How? Does Jean understand and speak French? Oh yes, he worked in Switzerland. But he speaks native language well. Does Jean go to the theaters? Or reads books? Yes, he received some education. His father worked as a messenger at the prosecutor, and he saw the freken as a girl, although then she did not pay attention to him.

So let him tell her where and when he saw her! Jean is her servant and must obey. It’s terribly hot here in the kitchen, so thirsty.

Jean offers Julia a beer. Would he drink with her? For her health? Is he shy? So let her kiss her shoe, and shyness will pass! No no! No one dares to think bad of them. Mistress and footman - this is unthinkable! In addition, Christina is in the kitchen. True, she fell asleep, we must wake her.

Julia wakes up Christina, holding her fingers to her nose. A half-asleep cook rises and leaves for her room. Jean is outraged: you can not scoff at sleeping! And Julia agrees with him. Shouldn't they go to the garden for lilacs? How? He does not want? Does he not imagine that she might fall in love with a footman? He really behaves like an aristocrat - with his own manners! But she, Julia, always wanted to go down to the lower realms. She often dreams: she stands on a tall column, and she is dizzy - she feels she should be down below on the ground, but she lacks the spirit to jump, and when she lands on the ground, she is drawn even deeper - underground! Didn't Jean experience anything like this?

No, Jean usually dreams that he lies under a tall tree in a dark forest. He wants to rise to the top and from there take a look at the distance illuminated by the sun. Or bust a bird's nest with golden eggs. He climbs the trunk and can not climb. But he is sure to climb a tree - at least in a dream.

A confidence tone is established between Jean and Julia. In moments, Julia openly flirts with the servant, at the same time pushing him away. Jean stubbornly repeats to her: she behaves too freely - his position obliges him to obey, but let Freken remember: he is a man, and he has his own pride. Jean tells Julia how he saw her as a child, making his way to the greenhouse: she wandered between roses in white silk socks, and he looked at her adoringly from the thickets of weed grass. The next day, he went again to look at her — to the church, and then, out of despair at the thought of the abyss separating them, he decided to die. Remembering how dangerous it is to sleep under the bushes of lilacs, he filled a flowering branch with a chest of oats and went to bed there. And the next morning he woke up sick, but still survived.

Jean and Julia hear the approaching singing of the courtyards - they, apparently, are heading to the kitchen. In no case should not be allowed to be seen together! Need to hide! Jean on his knees begs Julia: they can’t go to Christina’s room, the only thing left is him, Jean! But he gives his word that he will act prudently? - Significantly asks Freken.

Festively dressed courtyards and peasants enter the kitchen, they drink and dance, but then leave after a while.

Jean and Julia are returning. Both have one thought - they need to leave immediately! But where? To Switzerland! - offers Jean. They will open there a first-class hotel. They are waiting for a new nature, new languages, and they will not have a moment of idleness or peace for empty dreams and dreams. Day and night, a bell will ring above the front door, trains will make noise, omnibuses will come and go, and gold will pour in their desk.

What about Julia? What will Julia do there? She will be the mistress of the house and the decoration of the company ... With her manners and experience of Jean, his knowledge of hotel business - success is guaranteed! But do you need capital? Julia will get it - this will be her contribution to the common cause. But she has no possibilities! Then they will not go anywhere, and she will remain here in the Count's house, his mistress. But she won’t do it! She has pride! Does Jean completely dislike her? Oh, how she now hates him, a scoundrel and a boor! But what about his stories? Did he want to die because of her? Nothing like this. Jean read the story of the chest with oats and lilacs from the newspaper. She happened with a chimney sweep who decided to commit suicide when he was sentenced to pay money to support a child. However, Julia loves him, Jean, no more than he loves her. In fact, she hates men, such was brought up by her mother, who had been tormenting the count's nerves all her life. If Julia wants to run, let her run alone. And is it worth it to run at all? To torture each other to death? No, to enjoy life for two or three years, and then die. But Jean is not going to die.

Julia leaves to change clothes and collect things, and Christine joins Jean in the kitchen. She understands: something happened between him and the young lady, most likely, "great stupidity." Now he and Jean will have to look for a new place: they cannot serve servants whom you do not respect. Kristina comes out.

Julia reappears. She now has money - she hacked at the top of a cabinet with gold and jewelry. For the first time they will be enough, now they can run. But what is she holding in her hand? It? A cage with your favorite chizhik. She cannot leave him in the wrong hands. What stupidity and absurdity! And the footman quickly grabs the bird’s head with a knife. Julia beats in hysterics. Let him kill her too! His hand will not flinch!

Christina enters. Julia rushes to her in the hope of finding sympathy. But the cook repels her. She will not allow Julia to lure Jean with her. Julia is in despair. She offers to run three together. Christina will be in charge of their kitchen with Jean Hotel. She will see Europe! He will visit museums, the magic castles of Ludwig of Bavaria - the king who has gone mad. And then Christine will marry a wealthy Englishman. But the cook cannot be fooled: the lady doesn’t believe what she says.

Christine approaches Jean - he is shaving at this time - did he decide to run away? And what? Is Julia’s plan bad? He is quite feasible. Not! Christina will never go to the service of a fallen woman! Now she, Christine, is going to church, but it would not hurt Jean to get forgiveness from the Lord for his sins! And on the way, Christina will go to the groom and tell him that he would not give horses to anyone today!

Julia is completely confused. Sleepless night and drunk wine affect her condition. What would Jean have done if he had been an aristocrat and had he been in her place? Is not that? Julia takes a razor from Jean and makes a characteristic gesture. Jean agrees: he probably would have done just that. But let him not forget: he is a man, and she is a woman.

A bell rings in the kitchen. It comes from the intercom held from above from the lordly chambers. The count has already arrived and demands cleaned boots. They will be ready in half an hour! - the servitor answers with servility.

So, in half an hour! Julia is stupefied. She is so tired that she can’t do anything - neither run, nor stay, she doesn’t want to live. Let Jean, he is so strong, order her what she must, but is afraid to do! She is so tired that she will fulfill any order. Has Jean never seen a hypnotist in a theater? Let him order! She is already half asleep, everything swims before her eyes.

Julia describes Jean a state of hypnotic sleep and imperceptibly falls into a trance. She is waiting for an order. Jean hesitates, he is afraid of the earl's cry. Finally, in the kitchen, two short bells ring out. Jean winces, he tells Julia: “This is terrible! But there is no other way! .. Go! ” Julia with a firm step out the door.