In this mainstream French comedy, a television writer creates a hit series based on the experiences of her housekeeper. The writer Nathalie does this in desperation as she has a deadline and is utterly blocked. She goes to Petlet and begins transcribing her memories of the lively goings on in her rural home village. Each memory is an episode in itself, and the show becomes a smash hit, but when Petlet realizes that her boss has been cashing on her life stories and taking all the credit, she gets angry and quits leaving Nathalie with no maid and no one to watch her children. Later Petlet's adult children demand that their mother return to demand credit and a piece of the action. But Petlet remains undecided.

Madame Petlet, une femme pleine de bon sens, quitte son mari et monte à Paris où elle trouve un emploi de nounou chez une scénariste de télévision survoltée. Cette dernière, en panne d'idées, harcelée par sa patronne avide d'audimat, découvre en Madame Petlet une source d'inspiration intarissable. Sans qu'elle s'en rende compte, elle l'épie et lui vole mille détails de sa vie pour écrire un feuilleton. Contre toute attente, le feuilleton a un succès fulgurant...