A lay-about falls for his best friend's fiancee. The two of them run away from a life of privilege to one of middle-class normalcy. When an influx of money enters their life, their differences come to light.

Meek Eddie Pink becomes manager of an amusement park beset by mobsters.

A Polish family, left homeless in the wake of World War I, move to Germany and struggle to survive during the Great Inflation. War orphan Inga has only accumulated a small amount of money from the rubble and hopes to wed Paul. Weakened by poison gas, Paul begins to invest in Inga's future and serves as their symbol of optimism.