The old Flender farmer wants to force his daughter Wally into a marriage of convenience with her childhood sweetheart, the wealthy farmer Josef Gruber. This is the only way to save the Flenders' heavily indebted farm. But the stubborn daughter resists the courtship of Josef, who has serious intentions. At the shooting festival, Wally and her suitor get into a bitter argument, during which the wealthy farmer insults the unruly girl as "Geierwally", referring to her tame, hand-reared golden eagle. Deeply disappointed by her father's intrigues and the wrath of her old love, Wally seeks refuge in a lonely mountain hut. But Josef does not give up so easily. He has his heart set on winning the heart of Geierwally after all.