1899, St. Petersburg on Christmas. The ice-bound rivers and canals of the capital were raucous with bright festive life. On the eve of the new century, fate brings together those who, as one would think, were not meant to meet. They are people from entirely different worlds. Matthew is the son of a lamplighter; his only wealth is the inherited silver-plated skates; Alice - the daughter of a major dignitary, dreaming of science. Each has his complicated situation, but having once met, they aspire to the dream together.