By his father's decision, sixteen-year-old nobleman Pyotr Grinev goes to serve in the Belogorskaya fortress instead of the metropolitan Guard. On the way, during a fierce blizzard, he meets an unknown Cossack, Yemelyan Pugachev. Unaware of who it is, Grinev, touched by pity and simplicity of heart, shares with him his rabbit sheepskin coat. Arriving at the fortress, Peter falls in love with the commandant's daughter Masha. His feeling turns out to be mutual. However, Petya has a rival — Alexey Shvabrin, a second lieutenant who was demoted and exiled to Belogorskaya for a duel. Out of jealousy, Shvabrin tries his best to harm Grinev. Meanwhile, Pugachev declares himself Emperor Peter the Third, who miraculously escaped death, and gathers a motley army.