Children of the whirlwind

Scene: A Dickensian Lower East Side pawnshop. The ancient crone who owns it is waiting for her grandson, who has just been released that day from Sing-Sing. Also waiting are two of his gang, and the 18-year-old daughter of one of them, who boards with the grandmother. Expectancy runs high, as the grandson is the acknowledged leader of the gang and the girl has now decided that she's old enough to join them in their criminal enterprises. A bohemian painter who has his studio in the house is also intrigued by not only the idea, but the very low-life nature of these characters.