Rats are everywhere in the town of Hamelin, and a stranger promises to rid the town of the pests for a price. The stranger pulls out a pipe, and, playing a tune, hypnotises the rats into following him to the river, where they plunge into the water and drown.

Once the rats are gone, the townspeople refuse to pay the piper, and his revenge is to play another tune on his pipe, luring the children of Hamelin into the hills, all except for one boy who is lame. The children are never seen again.