Belgian Vice PM and budget minister Steven Kennis duly dreads an informal political audit of his staff by christian democrat party heavyweight Charles Van Praet, who fears it's about petty secrets, such as a purse he bought for his wife with ministry funds and now tries to pass off as a diplomatic present, supposedly stolen by a staffer. Chief of staff Alain Pieters makes the worst impression on Van Praet, a blunt cynic, who crushes number cruncher Dirk Kerckhove's dream of a clean budget. Only naive spokesman Joris Weyns passes muster, but he's the minister's patsy. ...