Babinois courts all the women he meets. He has a mistress, Gladys. He would like to marry the Bourillon's daughter, Monique. His maid, Rose, claims to marry him; Héloïse, a young widow, is madly in love with him. Babinois, not knowing how to refuse women anything, promises marriage to all. The fatal day arrives. The four women show up at the town hall in bridal costume and while the other three are doing their buns, Babinois marries Monique.

A husband, exasperated by his wife, spanks her without paying attention to the open window in front of which he is. He is annoyingly surprised to discover the next day that the scene has been photographed by a neighbor, and that the image is circulating in Paris. A debate then ensues: is this an opportunity to call for revolt or a welcome manifestation of marital authority?