That night, at the Blue Shade, Danny incurs Maxie's wrath by his attentions to Ronnie, who states that she had heard the young man sing once and compliments his voice. Meanwhile, Fisher goes to the pharmacy about the job, and after begging for a chance, is hired by pharmacist Primont. Clerk Nellie spots the shoplifters and deduces that Danny is in on the scheme, but does not alert the manager because she is attracted to Danny. Guitar in hand, Danny sings in the store and distracts the clerks and patrons while Shark and his men pilfer a large quantity of loot. The next day, Danny returns to Shark's hangout and agrees to help them rob the neighborhood five and dime. Fisher promises Danny that he will get the job for which he is interviewing the next day and tries to make him promise that while he works, Danny will attend school, but Danny rejects his proposition. Fisher assures him that he is proud of him, even though he has heard about his dismissal.

Danny quickly disarms Shark, and the older boy, admiring the way Danny fights, invites him to join them for an upcoming job. As Danny walks home, he is attacked by Shark, the older brother of the boy he hit, and Shark's minions, Dummy and Sal. Danny also relates that after his mother's death three years earlier, his father sank into a depression, lost his drugstore and has been unable to hold a job. Evans tries to convince Danny to return to school the following year, but Danny explains that he must work.

Pearson, the teacher who held back Danny the previous year, is angered by his fighting and refuses to let him graduate. When one boy taunts Danny, the quick-tempered Danny slugs him and is sent to Mr. Danny then goes to the Blue Shade Club, owned by gangster Maxie Fields, to clean and winds up rescuing Ronnie, Maxie's mistress, from two violent men whom Maxie had ordered Ronnie to 'entertain.' After climbing into a taxi, the drunken Ronnie insists on a kiss before Danny leaves, an incident witnessed by several students in front of the school. Danny and Mimi resolve not to argue, however, as Danny is to graduate high school that day, an eagerly anticipated event because he was held back the previous year. When Mimi chides Danny about his job as a janitor in a strip club, Danny retorts that one man in the family has to work. One morning in New Orleans' French Quarter, Danny Fisher quarrels with his sister Mimi about their father, whom Danny considers a weakling and blames for their economic straits.

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