Una alocada chica de la alta sociedad, su hermana y sus ricos amigos se divierten con un extravagante juego de caza que consiste en recoger todo tipo de desechos. En un lugar del East River, zona azotada por la Gran Depresión, encuentran a Godfrey, un ingenioso y mordaz vagabundo. Este curioso personaje acompaña a las hermanas a una fiesta, donde pronuncia un discurso sobre el carácter inhumano del juego. Después acepta trabajar como mayordomo en la casa familiar. En realidad, Godfrey esconde un secreto sobre su pasado.
Looking for his missing father, Joe Gordon heads into the desert where Elders from a secret village find him unconscious. Attracted to Sheilla O'Neill, the two plan an escape from the village where no one is allowed to leave. But then he learns his father is being held prisoner and finding him, he is also made a prisoner.
Given a second chance after her arrest for prostitution, Mae decides to go straight. Mae is soon befriended by kindly cab driver Jimmy Doyle who gets her work at a diner, where she meets Gert, another former prostitute. Mae and Jimmy fall in love, marry and save to buy a small business. Gert then pleads for money from Mae, which results in her unwitting involvement in a crime. Believing Mae has lied and cheated him, Jimmy threatens to leave her.