In inner Copenhagen, in the real old town, in greengrocer Mortensen's property right under Tagskægget, live three good friends: painter Richard Hansen, painter Steffen, sculptor Max, and their friend Louise Mørch. All three have something very boring in common: they are unknown and penniless. Suddenly, it seems that luck is smiling on them. Charlottenborg has accepted the painting that Richard submitted. Excited, he heads to the exhibition, only to discover that the selection committee has accepted the two packing box lids he used to protect his painting, lids that he uses every day to wipe his brushes on.