Whose Run It Is

An ambulance is taking a patient from a large half-built housing estate to the resuscitation unit. Foreman František Pelant has had a heart attack right on the work site. The young crane-operator Hedvika, until recently his girlfriend, carries on František's efforts to deal with irregularities in the running of the building works and in the factory supplying the prefabricated components. She persuades the veteran communist Zábrana to help her and together they initiate negotiations in the highest organs of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. František makes friends with another patient at the hospital, the architect Fišer who just happens to be the man who designed the experiment that the foreman has been putting into practice. The architect is already an old man, whose young wife cheats on him and rarely comes to visit. Pelant, on the other hand, refuses Hedvika's visits to the hospital. He describes to Fišer his struggles with the factory that has been supplying faulty prefab panels, and with several executives from his own company who have been making a fortune on co-operative housing projects. The directors of the two companies didn't like his initiatives and tried to accuse him of overstepping regulations. František had demonstratively proffered his resignation, and when to his surprise it was accepted, he had collapsed. Both Hedvika and the Communist Party officials continue with their efforts to resolve matters. Pelant is cleared of the accusations and when he arrives on site as convalescent, the workers welcome him with cheers. Zábrana informs him that he can return to his duties. Pelant regretfully refuses – the doctor has forbidden him to go back to work.