Nine-year-old streetwalker Emily lives with her widowed mother in 19th century New York. Her life changes abruptly when she learns that she has been appointed sole heiress by an aging, wealthy Austrian countess. It is not only an heiress who causes turbulence, but also the countess's attempt to raise Emily as a member of the aristocracy.

Stefania Rocca
as Malvina Farelli

Veronica Ferres
as Frau Hobbs

Philippa Schöne
as Emily

Christiane Hörbiger
as Gräfin

Christiane Filangieri
as Lucille Ernest

Xaver Hutter
as Herr von Havenegg

Wolfgang Hinze
as Professor

Paul Alhäuser
as Pauly Schwartz

Nino Böhlau
as Alfred

Alexander Jagsch
as Officer Collins