When the scene opens, we are introduced to the protagonist, who is a student of the protagonist's father. The protagonist explains that he is home with his student and his in-laws, and that he needs someone to pretend to be his other student to cover up for him while he is away. He asks for a young man to come to the house and pretend to help him clean up after his student. The young man pretends to be the other student, and the two men enter the house, where the protagonist explains to his parents that his student ran into his parents at home. He is embarrassed, and his sister tries to comfort him, saying that his parents are not to blame for him not doing the housework because he is a rich woman, but that he must continue to be sick and to do the chores. The two men agree to wait for the student to return home, and then they will go out to buy groceries.