A lady tells a porter to carry her things to her home. She invites him to stay the night on the condition that whoever speaks of what doesn't concern him will hear something unpleasant. Three Kalandars and the disguised Caliph and Wazir arrive. One of the ladies beats two dogs. Another lady sings, faints and displays her scars. The portress hears the song, shrieks and tears her clothes. The curious men have the porter ask what's going on, and the offended ladies call in slaves to kill them. However, one of the ladies says that if the guests tell the story of how they got there, they are free to go. The first Kalandar begins his story.