An unmarried nightclub singer, Vivanne Bruce, is thrown on her own when her lover, Jerry Nolan, is arrested for murder. Searching for a place to live, she eventually finds a room in a boarding-house ran by "Nellie" Alistair, a ruthless woman who provides room-and-board for unmarried mothers with an ulterior motive...selling children for adoption. Vivanne resents having to share a room with Chris Ralston, who arrives with her young son, but they become friends when Chris intervenes on Vivanne's behalf in an argument with another boarder. Vivanne is caring for Chris' child, and, when it becomes ill, she turns to "Nellie" for help but is refused. The baby dies and Vivanne fights with "Nellie", who pushes her down a flight of stairs. A doctor and a nurse are called and Vivanne delivers a daughter. The police are notified by the nurse when the nature of the boarding house is ascertained, and "Nellie" is arrested...