Mr. Catignac, a pork butcher in Perigueux, plans to marry Victor, his son, to the daughter of a magistrate. What he does not know, for his son does it in hiding, is that Victor writes songs and has made his debut as a singer in a cabaret. To make matters worse, the young man has a mistress. When word of it leaks out, the whole family are outraged. One night, as Victor goes back home, they are all here, waiting for him.