本片根据弗洛伦斯·奥贝纳斯撰写的小说《乌斯特雷姆的码头》改编，比诺什饰演一位知名作家，她想要通过亲身体验去撰写一部有关工作状态中不安感的书。她化身成清洁女工，在工作中发现每一元钱对生活都很重要，而这是社会上很多阶级看不见的层面。当她经历过这场考验，她与一些不幸的同伴结下了真正的友谊，温暖而且快乐的关系。
Wright's 1940 original novel followed a poor, 20-year-old black Chicagoan, Bigger Thomas, as he takes a job as a chauffeur for the wealthy, white Dalton family. When Thomas accidentally mits an act of violence against a member of the family, he engages in an elaborate cover-up scheme that begets more crimes. Wright emphasizes throughout the novel that society has been set up to make Thomas what he bees.
