Now, when Semyon leaved to Olga, Gleb and Phil have no money to pay the rent and are on the brink of eviction. Phil, in order to buy more time, fools their landlord into thinking that he is sick and needs treatment. Unfortunately, Bykov busts them and forces to reveal everything; but once he leaves, Phil and Gleb continues their deception, and tells their "patient" that he can't trust Bykov, who wants to kick him out to not spend money on him — and that he has to move to Venereology, since he has a serious problem... right in his ass. They manages to convince Kupitman (by promising him cognac) to give the patient a rectal examination, but gets busted by Bykov right afterwards. Kupitman saves their asses (figuratively) by revealing that their scheme just saved the patient's ass (literally), since he has a benign tumour right there; due to early discovering, it would be easy to treat. But then Kupitman increases the price for his services — for not ratting them out to Bykov, who doesn't know about their true intentions to send a patient to him. On the bright side, landlord is willing to forgive them their debt out of gratitude.
Kisegach's mother wants to discuss something with Bykov, in private; maybe, she's aware about her daughter's pregnancy? And if so, who told her? Of course, the first suspect is Gleb. When asked, Gleb insists that he just "hinted" her without admitting anything outright, to his mother's irritation. While Gleb's intentions are clear, it's not clear whether Marina realised everything or not; and if not, why she needs to talk with Bykov? Bykov talks with her, and learns that the real reason has nothing to do with pregnancy; Marina has started a relationship with some youngster, and is unsure how to tell her daughter. Bykov "solves" the problem by calling Anastasia, telling her that Marina is unaware of her pregnancy (being fully aware that Marina is here and can hear him), and then telling her about her mother's new boyfriend (in most un-delicate manner possible). The problem solved!
Bykov immediately guesses the correct diagnosis for Lobanov's patient, but tells it only to Rita, in order to test how quickly Semyon would find the solution on his own. Lobanov doesn't even try, and instead asks Rita (who has a note with correct diagnosis), who refuses to answer. Semyon then tries to exploit her love for gambling: he just saw her playing with Bykov, so maybe he can "win" the note with correct solution this way? But when Lobanov wins, turns out that the note contains only insults from Bykov. Rita does know the real one, but Semyon has to win it, too. Semyon manages to win again, and goes to tell Bykov the diagnosis... only to learn that the treatment that Bykov told to Rita is correct, but diagnosis is not — Bykov was fully aware that he would try to cheat. Now, both Semyon and Rita are punished with a night shift. What else they have to do? Play again, of course!
This episode provides examples of:
- Accidental Truth: Turns out that Gleb was right to send his landlord on rectal examination — Kupitman found a benign tumour in his ass, and since it was found early enough, it would be easy to treat.
- Ass Shove: Gleb diagnoses his "patient" with "prostate's aneurism" and asks Kupitman to examine him in exchange for cognac... rectally. Guy's look clearly shows that it was rather traumatic experience for him, and he refuses to discuss it; ever.
- Backstory of the Day: Rita gets revealed as The Gambling Addict, specifically, in Backgammon. It would never be mentioned after this episode.
- By "No", I Mean "Yes": During discussion about Rita and her love to gambling, Kupitman mentions that at some point, Rita had played with Bykov in Backgammon, and put sex on bet; she'd lost. When asked by Semyon whether she paid the bet, he refuses to tell, stating that Bykov is his friend, Rita is his colleague, and he's a gentleman... only to immediately confirm that yes, she did.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: Invoked by Bykov, twice.
- He was well aware that Semyon would try and take the note with "correct" diagnosis from Rita, so instead of solution, the note contains insults towards Semyon's intellect. He, however, told the correct diagnosis to Rita directly, which later allows her to bet it in the Backgammon party with Semyon.
- Rita suggests to play again (she knows correct diagnosis herself)... but Bykov then reveals that he told her only correct treatment, not correct diagnosis, being fully aware that she may gamble on it and lose.
- The Gambling Addict: Semyon's entire plot is build about Rita's addiction to Backgammon, and Lobanov trying to exploit it in his favour (as Rita knows the correct diagnosis and treatment).
- Lobanov indeed wins the gamble, but the note turns out to be fake. Rita reveals that she can just tell him the true diagnosis and treatment... if he wins again; her bet is the promise to run around the hospital naked (Lobanov actually records it to not let her back out).
- Kupitman mentions that Rita once lost her kidney in backgammon when playing with him; it "belonged" to him for some time, until she won it back.
- When Bykov punishes both Semyon and Rita with a night shift, since he locked backgammon in a safe, Rita suggests to continue playing, but this time, in cards.
- Hint Dropping: Gleb insists that he only "hinted" his grandmother about his mother's pregnancy. Anastasia hopes that the hints were too vague for Marina to find any link with her daughter, but in this case, what she wants to discuss with Bykov in private?
- Induced Hypochondria: Phil's plan to prevent their landlord from kicking him and Gleb out, now, when they can't pay the rent in time, is to make him think that he is sick and needs their help, so they would have time to find some money (they would even forge the tests' results to make it more believable). Gleb plays along, despite not being aware what Phil is trying to achieve. When he learns the truth, he gets impressed, but mocks Phil that Americans used the same method to fool everyone that they were on the Moon.
- May–December Romance: What Marina actually planned to discuss with Bykov turns out to be not Anastasia's pregnancy — instead, she found a new love (much younger than her), and wants Bykov's help to deliver this information instead of her. Bykov does it in his typical manner.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Bykov certainly didn't expect that him telling the information so blatantly would result in both Anastasia and Marina having a heart attack (fortunately, non-fatal). Perhaps, sometimes some subtlety is needed.
- Out of Focus: Varya doesn't appear in this episode.
- Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: Phil intentionally uses the complex medical jargon in order to confuse his landlord and make it easier to trick him into believing that he's sick; he pronounces it so quickly (and barely audible), it's impossible to either repeat or memorise.
- Sherlock Scan: Bykov demonstrates his diagnostic method to Semyon by looking on Lobanov's patient, recognising several minor details (complete with on-screen text), and combining them into one meaningful conclusion — which immediately proves itself to be correct when he asks the patient about it. Bykov then gives correct solution to Rita, and orders her to keep it hidden from Lobanov, who now must repeat the same feat by himself. She would check whether Semyon's diagnosis is correct (or at least meaningful), and tell Bykov. Semyon doesn't even try, and instead immediately asks Rita to reveal it, and, when denied, asks Kupitman for help with her.
- Shout-Out: Bykov calls Phil and Gleb "Phil'ka" and "Stepashka"; this is shout-out to long-running Soviet and later Russian children TV show Good Night, Little Ones!
, specifically, two of its characters, a puppet dog Philya and a puppet hare "Stepasha". - Take a Third Option: Marina is unaware about her daughter's pregnancy; Anastasia is unaware about her mother's new relationship. Both of them wants Bykov to "delicately" deliver this information to the other one. His solution? Call Anastasia's (in Marina's presence) and tell her that Marina is unaware about pregnancy, then mention that the real reason for her calling was her new relationship with some youngster who probably just wants to exploit it for prestigious apartment. He then gives the phone to Marina, so she can discuss everything with her daughter. He has a reason to do so: he knows them both well enough to know that otherwise they would waste a lot of time without even starting this discussion. This backfires, however, because they both suffers a heart attack.
