Managing Director Josef Gross arrives at his office to discover a strange memorandum on his desk. He is unable to read it since it is written in a precise, new office language – Ptydepe. Attempting to stop the spread of Ptydepe, Gross becomes locked in a power struggle with his Deputy and is eventually demoted to the lowest position in the organization. Taking pity on him, a young secretary breaks the rules to translate the memorandum. Its unexpected contents lead to a series of reversals which place Gross, once again, on top.