Stanbury ekes out a precarious living writing newspaper articles. He ekes out a hand-to-mouth existence as a janitor at his landlady's apartment building. She ekes out her living by singing the chorus in film songs. Kiki (Norma Talmadge) ekes out a living selling newspapers on the streets of Paris. A part-time mechanic, Sivankutty ekes out a living selling movie tickets in the black. Ottakkannan Pokker barely ekes out a living as a card sharper.