In the 1950s, Lurdinha and Marcos fall in love at the first sight. She studies at the Institute of Education, and he studies at the Military College. Two traditional educational institutions in 'Tijuca', in the North Zone of 'Rio de Janeiro'. But Lurdinha's conservative parents reject Marcos because he is son of separated parents and try, in every way, to keep him away from her.

An industrial couple spends more than they can afford. In financial trouble, the husband Afraninho devises a strange kind of business, for foreign executives, in which the product is his own wife Malu. They succeed, and soon other couples start doing the same thing, establishing the competition.

Joana is a sophisticated, beautiful woman, so she has a choice of lovers, and destinies. She will let down Pierre, the French consul at São Paulo, and with him the frivolity of tea-parties and comfort. Her wild inner-soul will develop into the wild forest surroundings of a landlord's farmhouse. To the extent she will defend her land like a 19th century owner - of lands and men alike.

This adaptation of a classic Brazilian novel focuses on the relations of charismatic characters within a tenement.