The director of a large metallurgical plant, Zorenko, develops and sends to the ministry a project for the reorganization of the enterprise, although the implementation of the plan would require a shutdown of production. Gruzdev, a responsible employee of the ministry, fearing a decrease in overall targets, insists on a partial reorganization. Under pressure from "above" Zorenko signs a project that he considers unacceptable. But realizing the illegality of the decision, he resumes the struggle for the radical reorganization of the plant.