Charlie, an old farmer, comes to the city to be examined by his doctor. Thinking that his stay in the city might take a long time, Charlie takes a cage with his last hen. At the weekend the old man stays overnight with his grandson. The grandson's wife is against his stay, but his great grandson James is fascinated by the guest and his chicken. Charlie visits the doctor and stays in the hospital. During this time, the tension in the family grows and the question of the life and death of the stray hen have to be solved.