In this scene Rocco is begging for money on the streets and stealing. This is important to the story to show how Rocco had nothing in the beggining.
In this scene, Rocco has just run away from home with Francisco and is living on a ship with Theresa, and Ciguciano. This is important to show that others assisted him along the way.
In this scene, Rocco is shown speaking to a man that had made money in America and is showing it off to Rocco. A reason this is important is that it is giving an example of a pull factor, or incentives for America.