In the late 1890s, Stavros Topouzoglou, a young man from Cappadocia, strives to escape his impoverished life in a village beneath Mount Argaeus in Ottoman Turkey. The narrative paints a vivid picture of the oppressive existence faced by the Cappadocian Greeks and Armenians living in Kayseri, showcasing their struggles, including the harrowing Derinkuyu Underground City where Stavros' grandmother resides.
Determined to find a brighter future, Stavros and his Armenian friend Vartan dream of venturing to America, a land they believe is filled with opportunities. However, tragedy strikes when Stavros is a witness to a brutal Hamidian massacre, leading to the death of Vartan. In a desperate attempt to recover his friend’s body, he finds himself almost imprisoned, signifying the perilous environment surrounding them.
Recognizing that danger looms over the Greeks amidst rising violence, the family devises a plan to send Stavros to Constantinople, the Ottoman capital, in hopes of securing a more stable life for themselves. His father, Issac, entrusts him with all their wealth—jewels, money, rugs, and a donkey—tasking him with the duty of establishing a prosperous life for the family. Despite this, Stavros harbors dreams of making it to America rather than settling in Constantinople.
His journey unfolds as a lengthy expedition on foot and donkey through the rugged towns and villages of the Anatolian countryside. Along the way, misfortune strikes when he is robbed of his possessions, leading to an act of vengeance where he kills the thief. Arriving at his cousin’s home empty-handed, he finds that his cousin Odysseus is disappointed, having hoped to revive his struggling carpet business with Stavros’ family wealth. When Odysseus suggests a marriage with the plain yet wealthy Thomna, daughter of rug merchant Aleko Sinnikoglou, Stavros knows this would thwart his goals and decisively refuses, leaving his angry cousin behind.
Now homeless and destitute, Stavros survives on discarded food and takes on grueling jobs. He is fortunate to meet Garabet, a streetwise veteran who encourages him to persevere. After months of hardship, Stavros manages to save up for a third-class ticket to New York, but in a cruel twist of fate, he loses all his savings in a betrayal during his first experience with a prostitute.
Finding himself in the company of local anarchists planning a violent act, disaster strikes when police intervention leads to a massacre. Presumed lifeless, Stavros finds himself among the dead, only to escape and crawl back to his cousin's home for refuge.
Odysseus, showing a glimmer of compassion, allows Stavros to stay and recuperate. However, soon before their wedding, Thomna confronts Stavros about his gloomy demeanor, and he reveals his intention to use her dowry for a ticket to America as soon as he finds a way to escape.
In a twist of fate, Stavros reconnects with Hohannes, an Armenian he had previously assisted, who reveals he has secured sponsorship to America in exchange for two years of labor. Their paths intertwine further when Stavros embarks on an affair with Sophia, the unsatisfied wife of a wealthy Armenian-American rug merchant, Artoon Kebabian. The relationship provides him with the funds to finally purchase a ticket to New York, abandoning Thomna without a word and boarding the same ship as the Kebabians.
Upon reaching the shores of the New York City, the ship waits out a quarantine. During a secret rendezvous with Sophia, Artoon discovers their affair, leading to a brawl between him and Stavros, resulting in an arrest. Just before being shipped back to Turkey, Hohannes, recognizing the dire fate awaiting Stavros, sacrifices himself by jumping off the ship, allowing Stavros to take his identity and escape immigration scrutiny on Ellis Island.
In a stroke of luck, with a new persona and fresh appearance courtesy of Sophia, Stavros becomes "Joe Arness" and is left to forge a new life in America, where he diligently works to pay off Hohannes' debt by shining shoes while striving to bring his family over one by one. Though he succeeds in his quest, his father's passing just before his chance to join him adds a bittersweet note to his journey.
