Frankie and Johnny is the story of love and human relationships. More than a tale of two people falling in love, it's a character study of a colorful variety of "ordinary" New Yorkers. After being released from prison, after serving eighteen months for check forgery, Johnny takes a job as a short-order cook. He's immediately attracted to Frankie, a waitress, but she rejects any of his advances. Johnny is persistent and, after Frankie relents and goes to a party with Johnny, a romance develops between these two lonely people. However, their romance comes to an abrupt halt when Johnny proposes marriage and we learn why Frankie feared any romantic involvement.