"The Bedbug," set in 1929 Tambov, Russia, unfolds against a backdrop of societal transformation where Ivan Prisypkin, a former Party member, navigates personal change amidst the promise of a brighter proletariat future. His extravagant preparations for his marriage to Elzevir Davidovna Renaissance reveal the tensions between his past working-class identity and his current aspirations. Fifty years later, Prisypkin's bizarre resurrection in a sanitized future world provides a satirical lens on the social and political shifts of his time.

Shopping Spree and Class Conflict

In the bustling State Department store, Ivan Prisypkin, or Pierre Skripkin as he now prefers, is entangled in a whirlwind of consumerism ahead of his wedding. Accompanied by his future mother-in-law Rosalie Pavlovna and neighbor Oleg Bard, Prisypkin's spree symbolizes his desire for abundance and sophistication. His intentions to furnish his home lavishly and raise cultured children contrast sharply with Rosalie's concerns over excessive spending, while Bard's mockery of class victory through a lavish wedding adds a satirical twist. As the group shops, Prisypkin is confronted by Zoya Beryozkina, his former lover, who demands reasons for both his shopping and his betrayal. Prisypkin dismisses their past with a curt "Our love is liquidated," while Rosalie derides Zoya, escalating tensions until a militiaman intervenes.

The Workers' Hostel and Social Satire

At a hostel buzzing with young workers, Prisypkin's wedding and behavior shift are hot topics. Known for borrowing boots to impress his fiancée, his actions are met with ridicule as his peers lampoon his clumsy attempts at high society living and his betrayal of proletarian roots. The workers' mocking extends to Rosalie, exaggerating her physique. Some among them suggest that envy fuels their derision, recognizing that they'd likely seize similar opportunities for upward mobility. Prisypkin's entry in shiny shoes and his casual return of borrowed boots only intensifies their scorn, yet Bard's advice to ignore the "vulgar manifestations" and to aspire beyond the ordinary hints at broader societal mockeries of capitalist and socialist tensions. In the midst of this discord, news of Zoya's suicide attempt echoes through the hostel.

Wedding Chaos and Disaster

Disregarding the chaos in his wake, Prisypkin plunges forward with his wedding, orchestrated by Bard in grandiose style. The celebration is marked by indulgence, snide comments, and the guests' unrestrained antics. Attempts to manage the unruly crowd falter disastrously as a fire erupts, leaving devastation in its wake. The aftermath reveals only charred remains, with Prisypkin mysteriously missing from the wreckage.

A Leap to a Sterile Future

The narrative leaps to 1979, unveiling a world transformed beyond recognition. In this stark new reality, an amphitheater stands as a symbol of modernity, populated by nameless figures in pristine white attire. Their methodical communication reflects a sanitized society. Within this setting, they stumble upon a frozen male body, its identity a mystery. Examination reveals calloused hands, hinting at a laborer’s past. As they thaw the body, the shocking revelation of Prisypkin’s survival emerges; preserved in ice for fifty years, he is the sole survivor of the fiery catastrophe.

Prisypkin’s Disorientation and Recognition

Revived from his icy slumber, Prisypkin finds himself adrift in an alien world. His filthy condition and the pigsty-like corner he inhabits stand in stark contrast to the sterile environment around him, reminiscent of a bygone era of revelry and chaos. The faintly familiar face of Zoya, who survived her suicide attempt, emerges as a tenuous connection to his past. Though she brings him books, seeking to rekindle his interest, Prisypkin dismisses them as mere propaganda, yearning for something more evocative. Despite his disdain, something eventually captivates him, leading Zoya to regret her past feelings.