Bronka, Franka, Amelka and Kwiryna are four girls living in the same poor district of Warsaw and going to the same school. They all fight for a better future but what the future brings is usually disappointment, sometimes even tragedy.

A middle-aged woman takes a young lover, and leaves her husband and family to live with him. Her lover tires of her, and tosses her out and she wanders around pawning her jewelry in order to live. She makes a last visit to her family, planning suicide after she sees them.

Stefcia Rudecka starts working as a governess in an aristocratic house. Waldemar, the young heir, falls in love with her but his well-off family is not eager to accept the woman he loves.

Disappointed with her life so far, Irena leaves her husband Zenon and leaves for Paris . He lives a free life there with his lover Duval. The millionaire Geist, her secret admirer, who insidiously led to the separation of her husband, being his false friend, learns about it. Desperate Zeno, who tries to commit suicide, enters the care of nurse Nelly, who also looks after little Tola; an emotional bond is born between them. Meanwhile, Irena, summoned by a millionaire planning a wedding with her, returns to Warsaw , where further complications arise between her, Geist, lover and husband.

Franciszek Brodniewicz reprises the role of Duke Waldermar Michorowski he played in the 1936 "Tredowata." Here, he leaves his recluse existence to help rescue the victims of a great fire, and suffers severe injuries. In his delirious state, he believes he is being taken care of by his dead wife, and (amara Wiszniewska, who is serving as his nurse, thinks his statements of love are meant for her. He is subsequently forced to disillusion the girl when he becomes normal, and she drifts into a casual love affair, but later falls in love with the Duke's nephew, (Wojciech Wojtecki.) The Duke later takes his nephew's place in a duel with the rejected suitor.

A young locksmith, Jerzy, builds an airplane. By chance, he meets the Brazilian millionaire Tomasz Kotlica and his daughter Janina. Witold Siemacki, an aviator, stands in the way of Jerzy's career and happiness.

After the tragic death of her fiancé, the countess of Leipzig finds out that she is with hope. The threat of a moral scandal forces her to marry the son of her father's servant - a very promising future doctor.

Three provincial journeymen: a shoemaker - Szydełko, a tailor's - Igiełka, and a carpenter - Wiórek, come to Warsaw, where they end up in the "Pod Apartuszkiem" inn. Soon they unexpectedly win a million zlotys in the lottery. They divide it equally and everyone goes their own way, but they agree on "Under the Apron" next year. After a year, they all meet again. The first two lost all their money, and the third settled down and married Lucia, the daughter of a carpenter.