LivingwithherfatherandstepmotherinNaples,Annaisveryunhappyasherstepmotherhindersherattemptstoliveherownlife.Whileherparentsareaway,shegoesoutwithCarlo,butfindsherselflockedoutwhenshecomeshome.ThisangersCarloandheasksAnnatogoawaywithhimtoRome,whereheplanstoliquidatehisbusinessassetsinordertohavemoneyformarriage.Hequarrelswithhispartnerandisimplicatedwhenhispartnerisfoundmurdered.Althoughinnocent,heisconvictedandgivenalongsentence.Annahasachildand,findingitimpossibletosupportherchild,returnstoNaples.Thestepmother'sconditionsarethatbeforeshewillagreetohousethechild,Annamustcommitherselftoareformatoryforunmarriedmothers.