Pretty, innocent young Trina looks so longingly at the popcorn Bill is feeding to the pigeons that he offers to take her to dinner.  After she consumes an enormous meal in a fancy restaurant, Bill announces to the manager that he has no money and, pointing out that the restaurant throws away food every day, asks what harm there is in allowing them to eat for free.  After Bill's speech, the manager throws them out.

The pair then leaves together for a riverside shantytown where Bill lives.  He doesn't want to be tied down, and even insists on sleeping under a hole in the roof so that he can always see the sky, but he allows Trina to live with him, temporarily.  Trina takes care of Bill, not interfering too much with his independence, and ignoring his fling with a singer named Fay.

One day, however, Trina learns that she is pregnant.  Although the news is almost more than Bill can handle, he cares too much for Trina to leave her flat.  After down-and-out preacher Ira performs their marriage ceremony, Bill, who wants money for Trina and her baby, reminds petty thief Bragg of his earlier suggestion to rob a toy store payroll.

When the robbery fails, Bragg, who has designs on Trina, calls the police to arrest Bill, hoping to have her for himself when Bill is in jail.  However, he doesn't count on the interference of Flossie, his drunken former girlfriend, who warns Bill.  By now, realizing that he loves Trina, Bill refuses to leave, even to save himself.  Flossie suggests that the pair run away together and then, to ensure that Bragg will do them no further harm, shoots him, then herself.  Trina and Bill are now safely away, heading into the future in a railroad car.