Canadian Richard Hannay, residing in London, meets secret agent Annabella Smith immediately following a shots fired incident. She asks to go home with him. Back at Hannay's flat the mysterious woman confides that she fears for her life and is on a critical mission relating to protecting state air ministry secrets. Later that night assassins murder her. Believed by the police to be her killer, Hannay is forced to go on the run and flees to Scotland in a desperate attempt to see Annabella's mission through before it's too late. Along the way he chances upon beautiful Pamela, who unwillingly becomes his accomplice in the mission.

On the sidewalks of the London theater district the buskers (street performers) earn enough coins for a cheap room. Charles, who recites dramatic monologues, sees that a young pickpocket, Libby, also has a talent for dancing and adds her to his act. Harley, the theater patron who never knew Libby took his gold cigarette case, is impressed by Libby's dancing and invites her to bring Charles and the other buskers in his group to an after-the-play party. Libby comes alone. A theatrical career is launched.

A local politician in Scotland tries to break the reporter who wrote a negative story about him, and who is also in love with his daughter.