In 1977, Caroline Séguier, Matt Ribero, Abel Karnonski, Laure De Cigy and her brother Louis pass their oral entry exam to the ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administration) and proudly find themselves studying in France's most prestigious school. Caroline, beautiful, hard-working, annoying and seductive, is a staunch supporter of François Mitterrand and is determined to succeed. Matt, a supporter of Michel Rocard comes from a family of steel workers in Lorraine and is proud to be the first in his family to escape his social status. Abel, a righteous young idealistic altruist, is the only one of the group already working (as a lawyer) and to have a wife and child (a little girl), whereas Laure and Louis come from a long line of aristocrats used to serving the State.