Accused of having stolen 3 million liras, a bank employee serves five years in prison. Having served his sentence and believed to be rich, he was showered with care and attention by everyone, even his wife. When the real perpetrator of the theft is found, he is despised and mocked. Then he actually steals some money and runs away with his wife.

Toto (Aldo Fabrizi), a Roman coachman with an old fashioned horse-drawn carriage who objects to the competition from motorised taxis, doesn't want his daughter Nannarella to go out with Roberto, a young taxi driver. But it is Roberto who helps him when he gets into trouble with a former client, Mary Dunchetti (Anna Magnani), an arrogant singer.