In the first light of day, one can see a mountain farm close to the forest. Nothing stirs far and wide. Suddenly, a figure comes out of the forest, running quickly to the farm. There's a quick grab and the hunting rifle is hidden in the gutter. There's a jump to the window sill: Obermeier Martl creeps like a cat into his room. No one's seen him. At the same time, the doorbell rings at Doctor Rauch's place. The hunter's mate Hias is standing outside. "Doctor, you have to bandage me: I've been shot!" By whom, he doesn't know.
The student Leopold wants to marry blonde Kathrein, the landlady of the "Golden Goose" in Wurzburg. To discourage Leopold, Kathrein's aunt Minna writes to Leopold's father Valentin, whose been known as "Krambambuli" since his student days. When Leopold's parents arrive on the scen, his father speaks to Kathrein and realizes that she is in love with Stefan, the Kellermeister at the Golden Goose. But Leopold's mom has already told Stefan, that Leopold will marry Kathrein and, because of this, Stefan now wants to leave the Golden Goose.
