The Suicide
A young, unemployed man, Semyon, believes the answer to his problems is to learn to play the tuba. However, his plan fails and he contemplates suicide. Because he is committing suicide he is able to write anything in his suicide letter without fear of reprisal from the government. His neighbour: Alexander Petrovich, decides to make money from Semyon's misery by selling space in his intended suicide note to several bidders. These bidders plan to use Semyon's suicide note to further and advertise their own individual causes. The Intelligentsia, represented by Aristarkh, is the first to approach him and is followed by others representing the Proletariat, the business world, the arts, etc.