Moldavanka is a legendary region of pre-revolutionary Odessa, a hectic, carefree world, to the brim full of bright southern life. Here dwells a motley, resilient people, as well as the pride of the Moldavanka - the charming thug Benya Crick, nicknamed King, son of the binder Mendel Crick. This whole story begins when Mendel decided to leave his family and go to the young beauty Maruska, selling his stable, well-known to all of Odessa .