Circus clowns Emil and Josef take Franci, an abandoned child, into their care. One day the circus burns down and the clowns start to earn their living as street musicians. Franci, now grown up, falls for Lora who cares for them selflessly. Josef still longs for the circus and Franci is not happy with a busker's life either. A thief who has stolen precious jewellery is being chased by the police so he throws it over a wall. A box hits Josef on the head and he decides to sell the jewels it contains to a second-hand dealer. Franci agrees, has the jewels valued, pawns some and gives the rest to Katy, a young widow he has taken a fancy to and because of whom he wants to split up with Lory. In a bar Franci gets to know Mr Hradil who notices Katy is wearing the jewels stolen from his mother. He invites them both back to his place. Franci recognises the necklace Katy is wearing in a painting of Mr Hradil's mother. He realises they are trapped and he throws the necklace out of the window. Lory, who has been following them, finds the necklace and takes it to the police. The reward for the finder is twenty thousand crowns - it changes their lives. Josef and Emil buy a circus van. Franci, contrite, returns to Lory and is overjoyed to discover he is to be a father.

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