A room in a cheap communal apartment of the Kalinovsky family. In the center there is a door leading into the hallway. On the left is the entrance to the owner’s bedroom. On the right, in front of two windows, there is a desk with magazines, stacks of papers, and manuscripts scattered chaotically over it. There is also a glass bookcase and shelves filled with books. On the desk stand portraits of Dobrolyubov and Belinsky. On the opposite side there is a small wardrobe.