Ben and Edna, an impoverished couple with an infant, are on their way to San Diego to find work for Ben when their car breaks down. Ben goes to a nearby automobile junkyard, hopeful of buying with his last $5 the part he needs. There Harry, the unscrupulous proprietor who deals in stolen automobiles and parts, teases Ben before promising that his mechanic, Blowhard, will try to find the necessary part. Sally, Harry's whorish girl friend, attempts to seduce Ben while Blowhard looks for the part. Meanwhile Harry, who knows that he is about to be arrested, plans to get himself out of trouble by turning in Ben as an automobile thief. Ben is taken aside and questioned by a police sergeant who has accepted bribes from Harry. Hoping to obtain a written confession from Ben, the sergeant permits his sadistic partner to beat Ben, but to no avail. Edna becomes worried about her husband and goes to the junkyard to find him. There Blowhard harasses her, telling her that Ben has been unfaithful, and attempts to seduce her. Police release Ben and attempt to arrest Blowhard, whom Harry has chosen to be his scapegoat. The police shoot Blowhard, and in a struggle Ben kills Harry.