The film tells the story of a group of kids who lives in a township of the poorest and most disreputable streets of Rome. The story is set in the typical climate of the Second World War's end. Thomas is a guy almost adult who lives at the expense of others, like all his other companions, stealing and wasting time. In fact there is nothing in his area, there is no education, no job, no social centers... Thomas in fact goes along with cronies stealing garbage and pieces of old iron to resell them to messy and equally poor body of the township. Thus, gleaned a few hundred pounds, Thomas and friends can have fun going to prostitutes or watching movies at the cinema.<br>Thomas lives for some years with these gimmicks, returning home only for dinner and going on nights like a whore into prostitution just to earn more money. But one day after a theft Thomas was arrested and when he comes out of prison his ideas change. Especially when he takes tuberculosis also has an inner struggle that leads him to think about his future as a human being and change their lives. Become honest, Thomas gets engaged to the beautiful Irene and also decided to participate in political activity, joining the Communist Party. However, a sudden accident truncates the young life of Thomas and all his brilliant projects.