Jack lived with his poor widow mother and their dog Trigger who earned money by competing. When Trigger got hurt, Jack had to sell him at the market in exchange for magic beans. His mother was angry at the exchange. The next day a beanstalk had grown and Jack climbed it, meeting a giant's wife who warned of her husband. Jack took the giant's guitar and had to chop down the beanstalk to escape, solving his family's money problems with the valuable instrument.