A new construction manager, Zaitsev, arrives in a small town. Two of his former comrades from the Red Army work here: Glinka, the director of the paper factory, and Latsis, the head of the timber rafting operation. Zaitsev advocates for the rapid expansion of the paper factory and surrounds himself with a group of opportunists. However, despite their long-standing friendship, after a series of revelations, he is forced to leave the town.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Mikhail ZharovZaitsev | Zaitsev |
 Anatoli GoryunovGlinka | Glinka |
 Tatyana GuretskayaVarya, Glinka's wife | Varya, Glinka's wife |
 Nikolai BatalovLatsis | Latsis |
 Veronika PolonskayaIrina, Latsis' wife | Irina, Latsis' wife |
 Vladimir RomashkovOld rafter (uncredited) | Old rafter (uncredited) |
 Georgy OrlovNot listed | Not listed |
 Nikolay UrvantsovShakalov | Shakalov |
 Vladimir TaskinLatsis's secretary | Latsis's secretary |