Skvortsov, a comfortably middle-class man, is approached by Lushkov, a beggar, who tells him a sad tale in order to gain his sympathy. Recognizing Lushkov as someone who has previously told him a different story, Skvortsov scolds the beggar for his lies and decides to put him on a more respectable path by hiring him to chop wood. Renowned actor Kenneth Branagh captures Skvortsov's simple self-righteousness, contrasting it with Lushkov's voice, which at first brims with pathos, then defensiveness and self-pity, and finally, a sober honesty that punctures Skvortsov's assumptions. Branagh's performance is paced deliberately - his use of pauses and hesitation lends immediacy to the story.