Il-bong was utterly defeated as a wrestling athlete. He decides against returning to his hometown and stays in Seoul. As he wanders the street, going from job to job, someone recommends him to become an actor. But the acting roles that are waiting Il-bong are in adult movies. At the set, Il-bong meets Ae-ja and falls in love with her. They give up the adult films and Ae-ja gets pregnant. Because they are desperately poor, Ae-ja has a miscarriage and Il-bong curses his incompetence. The two decide to part for one year. During that time, Il-bong becomes a male prostitute and makes a ferocious amount of money. But he has become tough without realizing it. After the year is over, Il-bong goes to their promised meeting place but Ae-ja is nowhere to be seen. Il-bong wails to the city.

씨름선수로 형편없는 참패를 당한 일봉은 귀향을 포기하고 서울거리를 방황하다 직업을 전전하는데 배우가 되라는 권유를 받는다. 그러나 일봉을 기다리는 역활은 도색영화의 배우역이었다. 그곳에서 애자를 만나 사랑하게 되는데 배우를 그만두고 애자는 임신을 한다. 극심한 가난으로 애자는 유산하고 일봉은 자신의 무능함을 저주하자 두사람은 일년동안 결별을 선언한다. 그동안 일봉은 애자를 위해 남창일을 하면서 무섭게 돈을 벌지만 자신도 모르게 거세됨을 느끼며 일년이 지나 약속장소에 나갔지만 애자가 나타나지 않아 그는 도시를 향해 울부짓는다.