Smiley is a mischievous, little barefoot boy who lives in the small country town of Murrumbilla, his father is an alcoholic drover and his mother is overworked and embittered. Smiley wants to keep up with his classmates and saves up for a new bike. He works at odd jobs and slowly raises money for his dream, but always seems to get into some sort of prank or another. Unknowingly he also helps the local publican, Rankin to sell opium to the local Aborigines. To pay off some debts, his father steals Smiley's money. Furious, Smiley unintentionally knocks his father out with a cricket bat and frightened he runs into the bush and is bitten by a snake. A swagman saves his life, Rankin is arrested, on Smiley's information and the townspeople buy Smiley his bike.