Coming home to supper one evening, Luigi tells his wife that a new couple is moving into the same tenement house that they live in. Vincenza greatly admires the moustache of her new neighbor and speaks of this to her husband, who laughs at her scornfully, but becomes very jealous of the man, Biaggio. Later in the day, when Vincenza is coming home with the groceries, she meets Biaggio on the steps of the house, and speaks to him for a few moments. Angelica, the wife of Biaggio, is looking out of the window and sees her husband talking with this strange woman, and she, in turn, also becomes jealous. The talk is rudely interrupted by Luigi, who returns home and angrily orders his wife into the house. There is quite a lively time in both apartments as a result of the little meeting on the doorstep. Owing to his hasty temper, Luigi loses his job and is unable to find another. He and his wife are almost on the point of starvation when Mrs. Thomas, a wealthy district visitor, comes to the house. She finds Vincenza alone, and, after hearing her story, leaves her some money, which is placed on the table. A sneak-thief, passing up the stairway, sees the money through the open door, and steals it after Mrs. Thomas leaves. Vincenza screams for help and is heard by Biaggio, who is coming up the stairs. He rushes to her aid. He struggles with the thief and obtains the money, which he returns to Vincenza. As he leaves the room he is seen by Luigi, who follows him upstairs and accuses him of an intrigue with his wife. Angelica overhears the accusation and rushes down to the room of Vincenza, of whom she is insanely jealous. In each apartment a terrific struggle takes place, In the one between the two men, and in the other between the two women. In the midst of it all, Mrs. Thomas enters. She has lost a ring and has returned to see if she had dropped it there. She soon explains the true state of affairs and the two families agree to forget their disputes and become the best of neighbors.