Gelsomina is sold for a few coins by her very poor mother to Zampano, a
fairground wrestler. She follows him on the road ("la strada") and helps him
during his shows. Zampano illtreats her. She meets "The Fool", a
funambulist. She feels like going with him, but he puts confusion in her mind
by pointing out that perhaps Zampano is in fact in love with her ...