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After Jerry Davis accidentally kills Alberto, who has forced his way into the dressing room of Mabel Kane, Jerry's partner in a dance act, she refuses to speak in his defense.  As a result, the district attorney persuades Jerry to plead guilty to manslaughter, and he is sentenced to prison.  Assigned to the lime pits, Jerry must share a cell with Mitch and Danny O'Neill.  In the prison yard, Mitch beats up Jerry, who is blamed for the incident.  The understanding warden makes Jerry a trustee, however, and assigns him to drive a truck with Danny.

When Jerry receives a telegram saying that his mother is dying, the warden refuses to grant him leave to visit her.  Then, during a prison escape, Mitch forces Jerry at gunpoint to drive the escape vehicle.  When the truck crashes, Danny urges Jerry to leave, saying the police will never believe that he did not plan the escape with Mitch.  Jerry escapes but is soon hungrily walking the streets, trying to evade the police.

One morning, Anne Taylor catches Jerry trying to steal a bottle of milk from her and, understanding his desperation, invites him to breakfast.  Jerry tells her that his name is Jerry Blair, and after Anne hears him sing, she persuades him to audition at the Alcazar Cafe.  Anne is a featured dancer at the nightclub, which is owned by Louis, whom she convinces to hire Jerry.  Anne and Jerry form a successful team and are soon in love.

Mabel arrives backstage and tries to blackmail Jerry into replacing Anne with her.  When Mabel learns that Jerry plans to quit rather than make her his partner, she turns him in to the police.  Jerry, meanwhile, tells Anne that he has had a better offer and tries to make their breakup easier for her by behaving like a cad.  When the police arrive, Anne realizes the truth and agrees to wait for him.