When her mother dies, the poor and unknown painter Johan Fahlén takes care of Ninni. She is paralyzed from below the waist, but Fahlén promises that one day she will be able to walk. While trying to provide for the two of them, Fahlén also has to deal with a custody battle with Malinda Karlsson, who thinks it is an outrage that a painter who can hardly take care of himself is left to take care of a young girl.