Harry Silverstein hates the group of older boys that hang around the poolroom close to his family’s newsstand. The boys constantly taunt Mr. Silverstein, pick on Harry, and harass Harry’s sister, Sylvia. However, Mr. Silverstein tells his children to pay the gang no heed. Today, Harry goes to the newsstand after school to help his father. Most of the locals regard the Silversteins with respect, but the gang antagonizes them regardless. The gang has been particularly cruel over the past few days, with the publication of certain news articles and the broadcast of certain political speeches.

Once in a while, Mr. Silverstein has to retreat indoors to let his legs warm due to their chronic pain. Soon, Sylvia arrives at the stand from school, defiantly walking past the gang at the poolroom. Sylvia has always been quick-tempered, but her stubbornness and willpower keep even the ruthless boys at bay. Together, the family sells their papers and jokes around. While their father goes inside to warm his legs again, the siblings’ joy is disrupted by someone throwing a rotten apple at them. Enraged, Sylvia snaps at the perpetrator to come out of their hiding place and Harry asks his father why they must endure so much hate. One of their routine customers, Mrs. Oliver, interrupts the conflict to purchase some magazines, but Harry is distracted, thinking of how good their lives could be if they were left alone. He knows the news in Europe is making his father anxious, but his father has told him that America is the last place left for them.

While Mrs. Oliver is chatting with them, another rotten apple strikes the newsstand. Sylvia calls the thrower a coward, but before the situation can escalate, rush hour for the newsstand arrives. Afterwards, the new issue of the Times is delivered, and Mr. Silverstein reads the headline with horror. The article reports that thousands in Austria are fleeing their homes to escape advancing troops and mobs. Sylvia leaves, promising to return after making supper. Although business continues, Mr. Silverstein can’t stop thinking about the suffering in Austria. Then, the gang approaches them, taunting Harry and his father. The boys begin attacking them. Mrs. Oliver returns to the newsstand to help the Silversteins but can’t do much. She tries to rally the onlookers into breaking up the fight, but they simply watch. Sylvia runs back, furious at the crowd for treating them as less than human. The gang wrecks the newsstand, then retreats when they see the police coming. As Mr. Silverstein and Harry weep, Sylvia warns the crowd that once the Axis Powers have hurt enough Jews, they’ll go after everyone else. Harry tries to salvage some of the magazines, but Sylvia snaps at him to let them be. She doesn’t go with the police to file a report because she believes it will be no use.