Pelageya is taken critically ill but the Young Doctor is too infatuated with Natasha to care. Meanwhile, the Older Doctor begins writing an opera.

Pelageya is sick with either malaria or typhus as the Young Doctor becomes more fixated with Natasha. Meanwhile, his older self boasts that he is writing an opera in an attempt at cathartic self-discovery.

The Feldsher and the colonel of the White Guard discover a badly wounded soldier and bring him to the Young Doctor. Natasha is eager to know if he has any information about her fiancé, a White Guard General, and the Young Doctor lies, telling her he died in battle.

The Young Doctor heads to his quarters, convinced Natasha will visit him. His older self becomes angry with him, telling him he should be looking after Pelageya and that his obsession with Natasha is as self-destructive as his addiction to morphine.

The Young Doctor finally visits the dying Pelageya, mainly to retrieve a reusable condom he thinks is in her room. He behaves with indifference as the Older Doctor reacts with disgust at his younger self.