Joe Forziati, an Italian immigrant who has battled his way to success as a New York building contractor, decides to embark on a social career.  Wyndham, his lawyer, arranges for him to be a guest at the home of socialite Mimi Howell, but his son Joey and his grandmother view his flashy new wardrobe dubiously.

Mimi, who is on the verge of a divorce from her husband, Dwight, falls under the spell of Joe.  Mike Mendino, a labor agitator whom Joe has defeated, plots revenge by arranging for Slip, one of his gang, to become Joe's chauffeur.  Mimi breaks off their relationship because of their unequal social positions, but Joe has Slip kidnap her child so that he may return the boy himself.  His own son is kidnapped by the gang, but after a battle with them, the child is retrieved.

Mimi is reunited with her husband, and Joe, realizing the impossibility of his aspirations, returns home with his son.