Rodolfo, a gigolo, will take back Rose, a prostitute, to live with him, but on condition she cast her newborn baby son into the garbage can. With the assistance of Santiago, Violeta, Rose's companion at a cabaret, saves the boy, calls him Juanito, and brings him up as though the baby were hers. Rodolfo kills Santiago, and Violeta kills Rodolfo when she comes upon him thrashing Juanito. The boy takes to the streets to shine shoes and sell newspapers, with his adopted mother now in prison. They await a presidential decree that will do justice.