A young man from a poor family, Egor Dmitrievich Glumov, motivated by ambition, wants to make a career. He deftly flatters, hypocrites, and obsequies, skillfully exploiting the weaknesses of his patrons, and secretly ridicules their stupidity and vulgarity in his diary.
A comedy starring Nina Shaternikova, The Skotinins is loosely based on the 18th century play The Minor by Denis Fonvizin. In it, the upper class is shown as both depraved and stupid, engaging a variety of absurd, over-the-top follies.