The action takes place in the second half of the XIX century., In the provincial city, in a poor apartment on the outskirts. Lyubov Ivanovna Otradina, “a maiden of noble birth,” living by her labor, sews and talks with the maid. From the conversation it turns out that the beloved heroine, the father of her child, Murov, will not appoint a wedding day. Women discuss the return to the city of their friend Otradina, Shelavina, who in a doubtful way received a huge inheritance from a wealthy old man and preparing for the wedding. Murov comes, says that he does not dare to tell his mother, on whom he completely depends, about his intention to marry a dowager, informs about the need to leave on maternal affairs, shows indifference to his son, who is already three years old, and he lives with the bourgeois Galchikha, who takes children to raise . During the conversation Shelavin arrives. Murov, to the surprise of Otradina, is hiding from her in the bedroom. Shelavina talks about the wedding, about the dress and shows her friend a photograph of the groom. Otradina recognizes Murov. After leaving her friend, she angrily kicks him out. At this time, Galchikha runs in with the news that her son Grisha is dying. “Well, now you are completely free,” Otradina says to Murov and runs away. “I'm coming for you,” Murov replies.
The second action takes place in a hotel, after seventeen years. The rich gentleman Dudukin, the patron of actors, is waiting for the return of the famous actress Elena Ivanovna Kruchinina, who is touring in the city. The premiere of the local Korinkin theater appears. She reports a scandal caused by the young actor Neznamov to the local rich man Mukhoboev. According to the actress, Neznamov has "a sharp and evil tongue and the worst character." Korinkina leaves, Kruchinin returns, tells Dudukin that she asked the governor to forgive Neznamov and not to expel him from the city. To her inquiries about the young man, Dudukin replies that Grigory Neznamov, an illegitimate child, was brought up and taken to Siberia, received some education, but after the death of his adoptive father and the second marriage of a widow, they began to offend and persecute him in the house. He escaped, was returned by the stage, hardly managed to get some kind of residence permit, stuck to the troupe and now he is always afraid that he would not be sent back through the stage. Kruchinina tells her story, says that when she saw her dying child, she lost consciousness, fell ill with diphtheria, and when she recovered, she was told that her son was dead. The patient, she was taken to her by a rich distant relative, with whom she lived until her death as a companion, traveled with her, and after inheriting a certain fortune and decided to become an actress. Because she did not see her son in the grave, everything seems to her that he is alive, she thinks about him, wants to meet him. Dudukin persuades her to take care of herself, give up fantasies and leaves.
Suddenly, Neznamov and Shmaga appeared in the room, waiting for Kruchinin in the buffet. On behalf of Neznamov, Shmag reproaches Kruchinin for her intercession, which she was not asked for. Kruchinina apologizes. Neznamov talks about his grievances, about the reproaches with which his comrades in the troupe will pester him. From his reasoning, one can see bitterness, disbelief in any kind motives of people, because he “went to the stage as a child without any guilt,” only because of a lack of papers. Upset Kruchinina warmly says that he has not seen much in life, there are many good people, according to her, in the world, especially women. She will not stop helping people, although this does not always end in good. Neznamov is amazed and moved, and Shmaga demands that Kruchinina pay their bill in the buffet and give a “loan”. The embarrassed Neznamov kicks him out and apologizes to Kruchinina, who gives him money for a coat for Shmagi. Saying goodbye, he kisses her hand, and she kisses her on the head. A “crazy beggar” appears in which Kruchinina recognizes Galchikha. She asks her to show her son’s grave, but the old woman says that the boy recovered, getting better, he called “mom, mom”, and then she gave it to the childless couple for money, Murov approved it and added more money from her. More Galchikha can not remember anything. Kruchinina, sobbing, exclaims: "What a villainy!"
The third action takes place in the theater restroom Korinkina. She complains to her first lover Milovzorov that Kruchinina’s game captured not only the audience, but also the troupe, and you have “your own actress, you must support her”. She conveys Dudukin's story about the life of Kruchinina, cynically interpreting her fate as the story of a woman of free character. She offers Milovzorov to set Neznamov against Kruchinin, having drunk him and "debunking" Kruchinin in his eyes. He agrees. She advises visiting her Dudukina today to arrange an evening in honor of Kruchinina. Shmaga appears, assuring that Neznamov “lost the thread in his life”, refuses tavern pleasures and admires Kruchinina. After the departure of Dudukin and Shmagi, Neznamov appears. Korinkina begins to flirt with him and persuades him to go with her in the evening to Dudukin. Neznamov and Milovzorov remain alone and talk about Kruchinina, Milovzorov agrees to recognize her acting gift, but gradually retells the version of her life composed by Korinkina. Neznamov is in despair, but still doubts a little whether this is true, decides to check everything in the evening and leaves.
Kruchinina, who arrived, leaves Korinkina in her latrine, the best in the theater, and leaves. Murov appears, expresses his admiration for the game of Kruchinina and asks if she is Otradin. Confirming his guess, she refuses to talk about herself and demands to say where her son is. Murov, hoping that she did not know about his recovery, was forced to report that he was adopted by a wealthy merchant. In his story, he mentions that he put on the baby a gold medallion, once presented to him by Otradina. After that, he says that his family life was unhappy, but, having become a widow, he inherited his wife’s enormous fortune, and when he saw Kruchinin, he realized what treasure he had lost, and now asks her to become Madame Murova. To all this, Kruchinina answers: “Where is my son? Until I see him, there will be no other conversation between us. ”
Neznamov and Shmaga reappear, talking about the gossip told by Milovzorov, which Neznamov now believes or doubts. He suspects intrigue here, but Shmaga gradually strengthens him in distrust of Kruchinina. Extremely agitated Neznamov leaves with Shmaga in the tavern "Meeting of happy friends."
The last action takes place in the garden of the estate Dudukina. Korinkina calls the actors for a snack and slowly instructs Milovzorov to properly “warm up” Neznamov. Kruchinin tells Dudukin about the recognition of Galchikha and complains that he can not find any trace of his son. Dudukin tries to reassure her and finds the search hopeless. Murov appears, Dudukin leaves to seat the guests at the cards, and Murov reports that he made inquiries and found out that their son and his adoptive father fell ill and died (while he constantly confuses the name of the adoptive parent). Kruchinin does not believe. Then Murov demands that she leave and with her searches not cast a shadow on his reputation in the city where he has all his affairs and therefore he cannot leave him himself. Otherwise, he threatens her with troubles. Kruchinin replies that he is not afraid of him and will continue to search.
Dudukin invites everyone to dinner. Kruchinina wants to return to the hotel, then she is asked to at least drink champagne on the road. Korinkina tells Neznamov and Shmage not to talk about children at the table with Kruchinina. Neznamov sees this as confirmation of the stories about Kruchinina and promises to make a toast “about adults”. After a solemn speech in honor of Kruchinina and her response, in which she shares success with the whole troupe, Neznamov suddenly makes a toast “to mothers who abandon their children”, and in a pathetic monologue describes the misfortune of children in need, and most importantly, ridicule. At the same time, he mentions that some are doing even worse by giving an abandoned child some golden trinket that constantly reminds him of his mother who left him. The struck Kruchinin rushes to him and takes out his medallion from his chest, shouting “he, he!” she loses consciousness. Shocked Neznamov promises not to avenge anyone for an evil intrigue, because he is now a “child” and asks Kruchinina who has come to herself, where is his father. Looking at the frightened Murov, Kruchinina tells her son: “Your father is not worth it to look for him,” promises that Neznamov will study and, having obvious talent, will become a good actor, and his mother’s surname is no worse than any other.
