After the Rain, on Thursday 1986

Three Ivans are born; Tsar decrees they be raised together

On a Thursday after the rain, Tsar Avdei's son is born, along with Varvara's son and a foundling discovered among cabbages in the garden. To safeguard a unified lineage, the Tsar decrees that all three boys named Ivan will be raised together. The newborns' fates intertwine from the start, with the palace crowding their infancy into one shared life.

Varvara swaps the babies; real prince and foundling sent away

Varvara deceives the Tsar by swapping her own baby with the Tsar's infant and the foundling. The real prince and the foundling are sent to a labor camp, while Varvara's son is raised as the apparent heir. The move seeds a lifetime of deception that will drive the kingdom toward crisis.

Twenty years later: false prince rises at court

Two decades pass and the false prince, now powerful at court, begins plotting to seize the throne with Varvara's encouragement. Tsar Avdei remains wary and withholds his full approval, sensing trouble in the young heir's ambition. The realm edges toward crisis as legitimacy hangs in the balance.

Varvara convinces Yegory to eliminate the Ivans; escape on a flying carpet

Varvara convinces her brother Yegory to eliminate the two Ivans, leveraging her influence to clear the way for the true successor. The plan is overheard by the real prince and the foundling, who escape on a flying carpet. Their escape marks the rise of hidden fugitives who must outmaneuver a treacherous court.

To delay the succession, Avdei sets Ivan a quest to rescue Milolika

To delay the succession, Avdei declares that Ivan can only inherit if he rescues Princess Milolika from the immortal Koschei. The decree forces the boy to confront dangerous magic and impossible tasks. The kingdom watches as the rescue mission becomes a test of worthiness rather than birthright.

Volunteers set out for Koschei's lair; checkers and ransom at stake

A motley group, including the false prince and Yegory, sets out for Koschei's lair, hoping to ransom Milolika or secure her freedom by playing enchanted checkers. They venture through perilous lands as time runs short. The quests entwine themes of loyalty, ambition, and the price of power.

Real prince and foundling stumble upon Baba Yaga; charm Koschei, find Milolika

Meanwhile, the real prince and the foundling encounter Baba Yaga and use cunning to outwit Koschei, locating Milolika in the process. Their cleverness rekindles hope that the rightful ruler can still prevail. The meeting deepens the mystic elements surrounding Koschei's power.

Koschei captures the two Ivans; bargain: retrieve the Firebird

Koschei captures the two Ivans and offers a deal: spare the prince if the foundling retrieves the Firebird from a distant shah. The moral weight shifts as the Firebird's presence becomes a bargaining chip. The timer for Milolika's rescue accelerates toward a climactic confrontation.

Foundling frees the Firebird's cooperation after witnessing cruelty

The foundling witnesses the Firebird's captivity and persuades it to aid their cause. With the Firebird's magic on their side, the fugitives gain a crucial edge against Koschei's traps. Hope rekindles as the two Ivans advance toward freedom and the egg's secrets.

Foundling returns; the prince locates Koschei's death egg

While the foundling races back with the Firebird's help, the real prince, aided by Milolika, locates the crystal egg containing Koschei's death. The egg holds the power to end Koschei's immortality and seal the fate of the magic that binds everyone. The two threads of the quest converge toward a single, decisive moment.

Final confrontation: Firebird aids, Koschei destroys the egg

With the Firebird's support, the two Ivans corner Koschei. In a twist of fate, Koschei unwittingly destroys the crystal egg that contains his own death, breaking the spell. The imprisonment ends and all who were transformed are restored to their true forms, bringing light back to the realm.