Farmer Grillhofer is slowly getting old and sickly. His housekeeper Rosl takes care of him, while foreman Wastl takes care of the farm. Grillhofer's brother-in-law Dusterer knows that twenty-five years ago the farmer got involved with his maid, Riesler Magdalen, who then disappeared. He uses this knowledge to get Grillhofer to hand over his estate to him and his family.