Main Directorate

Small businessman Yuri Kolokol'tsev, caught in a criminal story, agrees to exchange documents with his friend, a militiaman, and under his name goes to work as a clerk in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The friend, however, is not tempted by such a path; he is disillusioned with the profession and dreams of moving to America, although a relative – the Deputy Prime Minister of the government – has arranged his protection in the ministry. Yuri has nowhere to turn: he crashed someone else's car, injured a person, and now faces a prison term. He becomes Shuvalov, moves into his apartment, and takes the position offered to him, immersing himself in the division of property, inter-agency disputes, "protection" of businessmen, intrigues, and mutual guarantees. Thus begins his rapid ascent on the slippery slope of the career ladder…