The story takes place in Rome after World War II. The crowd in front of the employment agency was surging, and countless people were waiting for work. Anton, who had been idle for two years, was finally introduced to work at the advertising agency, but there is a condition that he must have a bicycle to work. The wife pawned all the sheets in the house before redeeming the pawned bicycle. Early the next morning, his son Bruno cleaned the bicycle for his father, and his wife prepared lunch for him. Anton received the task from the advertisement, and an experienced worker pointed him out the essentials of the work, leaving him to work alone. While working on Anton's work, a young man rode on his bike parked on the side of the road and galloped away. Anton ran to catch up, but was disturbed by his eyeliner and lost his goal. Anton reported to the police, but received no help, so he had to ask a friend for help. My friend suggested to go to the bicycle market early the next morning, because the car thief might get rid of it there. Early the next morning, Anton brought his son and friends to the bicycle market. After searching for a while, there was no result. They went to another bicycle market to continue searching. I don't want a heavy rain to disperse the market. When the father and son huddled under the eaves to avoid the rain, they found that the bike thief was talking with an old beggar not far away. Anton chased him, and the man ran away on a bicycle. Anton hurried back to look for the old beggar, and questioned his boy's whereabouts. The old beggar refused to answer, and Anton and his son watched him closely when he came to a church. Anton repeatedly asked the old beggar to accompany him to find the guy. In desperation, the old beggar had to tell him an address, but he refused to accompany him. Their quarrel attracted church staff, and the old beggar took the opportunity to slip away.
According to the address provided by the old beggar, the father and son came to a poor residential area, where they met the guy who stole the car. The guy ran away when he saw them, Anton dragged the guy into the street. Unexpectedly, the residents onlookers were all his neighbors, but at this time the boy convulsed. Residents have excused the guy, accused and intimidated Anton, although Bruno could not do anything when he found the police. Faced with hostile eyes, Anton only retreats when he knows the difficulties.
The father and son walked back in frustration. When passing the street junction, Anton saw a bicycle parked in no one on the street, and an idea flashed in his mind. He hurriedly sent his son home, and secretly rode on that bicycle by himself. Unexpectedly, he was found by the owner and caught by passers-by, who wanted him to be taken to the police station. Bruno, who was waiting for the bus on the street, saw all this and ran over, crying "Dad" and pulling his father desperately. The owner saw Bruno crying and asked everyone to let Anton go.
Anton walked silently on the street, Bruno held his father's hand tightly. Seeing his son next to him, Anton shed tears and squeezed his son's hand tightly. The father and son disappeared into the crowd.
