After ejecting some complaining citizens from the town council chamber, he sits down with five others for a discussion. The Pied Piper calls on them, explaining that he is a ratcatcher. The mayor shakes his hand, but the others laugh.

The Piper walks along the street playing a small trumpet-shaped instrument. A rat emerges from the ground, followed by others. The Piper sits beside a lake and rats scurry into the water.

The Piper returns to the council chamber and requests his payment. The mayor offers him a single coin, which the Piper refuses.

The Piper walks along the street playing, and is followed by several children, whose numbers quickly grow. They pass through the streets skipping and jumping. A boy on a crutch hobbles after them. The Piper leads the children into a cave. As the lame boy reaches it, the entrance disappears. He tells a group of townspeople what he has seen.

They burst into the council chamber and have an animated discussion with the mayor. They then visit the site of the cave, bearing two bags of money. They kneel and pray, and the Piper appears in front of them. He accepts the money, the cave entrance reappears, and the children begin to emerge.