Kalle Jeppson is the joyful owner of a rural inn, "Spången" (The Footbridge). His only problems are all the bylaws that makes it difficult to have a quiet drink and the shrew of his wife who is always nagging on him. Kalle is afraid to tell her that Karin the maid is really his daughter from the days before their marriage.
Henrik Karlsson is accused of having stolen 5,000 SEK, even though he is innocent. But to protect the real thief, who is sick in hospital, Karlsson takes the full responsibility.
The wealthy hat maker Cederström has two daughters, Marianne and Lotte. He has decided that Marianne should marry Melander even though she loves the poet Malm. Lotte on the other hand loves Melander.
