Cunning Hotzenplotz has managed to escape from the village prison with a trick. Kasperl and Seppl immediately set off to recapture the escaped villain. They finally find him in his secret hiding place in the middle of the deep forest. But not only is he at large again - he is also threatening the grandmother with his pepper pistol. He will only release her for a high ransom of five hundred and fifty marks. Together with the courageous constable Dimpflmoser, the two devise a plan. Will they be able to free the grandmother and catch the rascal?