Ernestine Stengel works as a housekeeper in a small northern German hotel that guests like to visit, especially at weekends. She is still single and, given her age, no longer quite "fresh", or as they say, a "late girl". At least that is what her regular guest, Dr. Hans Ahlgrimm, calls her. One day, Ernestine finds her little bit of happiness, and it is a monetary one: she wins the lottery.