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Act One

On a stiflingly hot evening in Manhattan, some women are talking inside the tenement where they live, while the building’s janitor goes about his work. They speculate about their neighbour Anna  Maurrant and her relationship with Steve Sankey, who collects money for the milk company.

Anna talks to the earnest young Sam Kaplan, who is in love with her daughter Rose. Daniel Buchanan frets about his wife and the impending birth of their first child. Anna’s husband Frank comes home and demands to know why his son Willie is out playing on the street and why Rose is not yet back from work. Anna remembers her childhood and the dreams she had as a girl, and the hopes she still has for a better life.

Lippo Fiorentino arrives with ice-cream cones for everyone. Frank longs for things to be the way they used to be. The Hildebrand family, due to be evicted from their apartment because they can’t pay the rent, try nonetheless to be cheerful and celebrate the scholarship success of their daughter Jennie with their neighbours.

Sam feels alone, despite being surrounded by so many neighbours. Rose is accompanied home by her boss, Harry Easter, who tries to seduce her with promises of a career in show business. Mrs Buchanan goes into labour and Rose runs to get the doctor. Mae Jones and her friend Dick McGann have been out partying. She’s exhausted, but he persuades her to go out again into the city to dance. When Rose returns, Mae’s brother Vincent makes a pass at her. Sam tries to defend her but Vincent physically threatens him. Rose and Sam dream of a life beyond the city.

Interval

Act Two

The next morning. Mrs Buchanan has given birth. Willie Maurrant and other children play on the sidewalk. Rose is on her way to the funeral of a work colleague. Frank is heading out of town and is suspicious when Anna asks him when he’ll be back. Anna sends Willie off to school and Rose tells Sam about Harry Easter’s promises of giving her a chance on Broadway. Sam pleads with her to run away with him instead. Rose asks for a little more time to think it over.

With everyone gone, Steve Sankey arrives and Anna invites him in. Frank returns unexpectedly and Sam tries to warn Anna but it is too late. An enraged Frank shoots at both Anna and Sankey and then escapes. Rose returns home to find that Sankey has been killed and her mother mortally wounded.

Later. Two nursemaids with babies in their charge have come to gawp at the scene of the shooting. Rose comes back from the hospital, where her mother has died. As Sam and his sister Shirley try to comfort her, more shots are heard – Frank has been found by the police. Before he is taken away he tries to explain himself to Rose.

Once again Sam tries to persuade Rose to go away with him but she has decided that she must make her own way. A new family arrives to view the Hildebrands’ now empty apartment, as the occupants of the tenement once again gossip and complain about the heat …