XVI century. Reign of Ivan the Terrible. The young serf Nikishka, from his childhood, peered at the flight of birds and harbored a dream of learning to fly. To this end, the genius mechanic tried to make wings for human flight. One day, to celebrate after a successful trade deal, the king decided to give the guests some fun and ordered Nikishka to prepare for the flight. He jumped from a high bell tower and made a successful flight on wings. The king decided, however, that “it was none of God’s business” and ordered Nikishka’s head to be cut off and his wings to be burned. Tsarina Marya Temryukovna took a liking to the inventor and on the night before his execution she entered the dungeon where he was imprisoned. Oprichnik Drutskaya, the former lover of the queen, found her there. Drutskoy rushed at Nikishka, and Marya hit Drutskoy with a dagger and ran away. Her servant took Nikishka away through a secret door. The guardsmen who ran in found Drutsky still alive, and he denounced the queen. The king strangled her with his own hands, and the palace guards managed to capture and kill Nikishka.