Melvin Rivers (as Himself) is brought back to New York City after serving time in the city's Department of Correction. He sells some blood at a blood bank just off the underground station to get some pocket money, and calls on some relations for lodging. A young man (
Joe Rizzo) takes him in, and seems happy to have him borrow some of his fancy clothes, whiskey, and even money - after a badly needed bath. He meets
Charles McGregor (as Himself) in a bar, but old Charlie seems more eager to get Melvin's help in his street game of craps than in getting him a legal job. The beautiful black lady (
Sue Annett Ceruti who is sitting with Charlie politely tells Melvin's advances off, despite she is "just friends" with Charlie. Having too much time and no work, Melvin spends some of both drinking in a bar, where a pair is splitting apart; this time, the "Brooklyn Queen" (
Amy Macri) he chats up, accepts to go to his apartment. He is too drunk, and gets asleep as soon as they strip down for the night. Melvin wakes up to the strong light of the day, finding his trousers' pockets empty, and falling back to his last 20 dollar bill he had hidden in the room before leaving - a good lesson from his time in prison. Desperate for money to pay rent, he joins Charlie for a craps game, then tries his luck at an employment center, and after a number of rejections finds a job as construction painter - only to loose it due to his own temperament and some racial prejudice. He finds himself back to his friends' room, and his own anger.
—Artemis-9