When political thugs murder an opponent's volunteer and also kill a cop, chief inspector Verjeat believes the politician who hired them is as guilty as the murderous goon. Verjeat's pursuit of the councilman, Lardatte, gets him a warning from his superiors. When he embarrasses Lardatte while disarming a hostage (the dead volunteer's father), Verjeat is told he's being transferred within a week. He speeds up his hunt for the goon and, with Lefévre, one of his young detectives, he engineers a complicated scheme to buy more time before the transfer. How should Verjeat play out his values of honor and duty?

Commissioner Verjeat

Inspector Lefèvre

Pierre Lardatte

General controller Ledoux

Commissioner Pignol

Marthe Rigaux, boss of the brothel

Judge Delmesse

Roger Portor, brother of Antoine

Antoine Portor, Lardatte's henchman

Inspector Moitrié

Inspector Ransac

Mr. Mercier, father of the young man killed

Letellier

Jeanvier, informer with the dog

Inspector Martin

Marie Portor

Old lady

Inspector Dupuy
December 10, 1975

Commissioner Verjeat

Inspector Lefèvre

Pierre Lardatte

General controller Ledoux

Commissioner Pignol

Marthe Rigaux, boss of the brothel

Judge Delmesse

Roger Portor, brother of Antoine

Antoine Portor, Lardatte's henchman

Inspector Moitrié

Inspector Ransac

Mr. Mercier, father of the young man killed

Letellier

Jeanvier, informer with the dog

Inspector Martin

Marie Portor

Old lady

Inspector Dupuy

