Santa Claus, expelled from the Heavenly Council because of his alleged failure, finds work on Earth as a stoker in a children's hospital. His willingness to help soon makes him indispensable.

After two failed marriages, Walter is finally looking for a wife again. But his father Paul, who believes his own position in the house would be jeopardized if a daughter-in-law came into the house, cunningly gets rid of all the candidates. Walter has placed an advertisement for a wife, as both the male-headed household run by Walter's father Paul and the upbringing of his adolescent son Peter require a female hand to keep things in order. Grandfather Paul, on the other hand, feels that the cosy trinity and especially his own position in the house would be jeopardized if another daughter-in-law took over the reins. So Paul sets about inventively thwarting Walter's intentions. At first, it is completely inexplicable to Walter why all his encounters with marriageable ladies end in failure. But he has other things to worry about at the moment anyway. His son, Peter, is having an affair with his teacher's daughter, of all people.

Paula Semmelrogge's little store is under threat. But a blow with a frying pan turns the old, withered and stingy retired lawyer and landlord Riemer into the youthful lover he has always suppressed within himself. Compulsions now fall off him like chains, and he finally gives in to the urge to get into bed with his tenant Paula and abandons the plan to sell the house. Much to the chagrin of real estate agent Suhr, whom he thus deprives of his business.