The world is on the edge of another Great Depression and self reliant drifter "Nada" (Roddy Piper) arrives in LA looking for work.
He manages to get a labouring gig on a building site and strikes up a friendship with Frank (Keith David). Frank directs "Nada" to a local shanty town for somewhere to stay. In the camp, a mix of manual workers and the unemployed eke out a life with help from community organisers and the local church.
Becoming suspicious of odd comings and goings at the church, "Nada" sneaks in one day and finds its a front for some kind of lab but it's not clear what's going on. After being confronted he runs off and later that day the Police arrive in force, bulldozing the settlement, rounding up various people and trashing the church.
Returning in the morning to see if he can salvage any of his possessions "Nada" goes back to the church, finding a box hidden behind a secret panel. Thinking it something valuable he makes off with it but is disappointed to find it's just full of cheap looking sunglasses.
Nonetheless he stashes the box, picks up one pair to wear and starts to walk back to the camp.
No good will come of this.