A small stage has a backdrop of a city street, sidewalks, a park, and buildings. From stage right, a boy leads a blind man onto the stage, helps him kneel with his hat and cane in front of him. The boy hands a sign, "pity the blind" around the man's neck and leaves. A fellow in a bowler hat passes by, dropping a coin in the blind man's hat. Then two well-dressed women enter, talking.