Ben Harvey, a naive young man, flees his small town in 1910 to escape his sinful desires and find a fresh start in Chicago. However, his new life is quickly turned upside down when a pickpocket steals his money, leaving him on the brink of starvation. It's then that Queen Lil, the owner of a high-class bordello, takes him under her wing, providing him with a room and a job at a local newspaper. As Ben becomes embroiled in an election battle between a corrupt reformer and a corrupt councilman, he must navigate the allure of power and corruption while trying to expose the truth. Along the way, he's aided by an investigative reporter struggling with his own demons and the bordello's beautiful ingénue, who help him grow up and find his place in the world.
Gaily, Gaily
Ben Harvey, a naive young man from a small town, flees his humble beginnings in 1910 to conceal his hidden desires, but soon finds himself struggling to make ends meet in Chicago after falling victim to a cunning pickpocket.
