In this very loose variation of motifs taken from Twain's classic "Tom Sawyer", the plot has been transposed to a small Bavarian town just after the end of WWII. The orphan Tom, who lives with his strict aunt Polli takes every chance he can to plot pranks together with his best friend, cheerful roamer Hacke. Playing a trick, however, the boys damage Aunt Polli's sewing machine that the tailor needs to provide for her family. To make things worse, the same night, Tom and Hacke witness a murder. On the arrest of an innocent, the boys come up with a plan to convict the real murderer.