Carmen, a poor and beautiful woman, lives in a shantytown in Rio de Janeiro. All men desire her, including her stepfather, but she only has eyes for her boyfriend, Milton. After being expelled from home, she finds out her lover is married. Unhappy with her life, she finds a place in a boarding house and tries to find a job, with no success. Tired and starving, she ends up passing out in the street, being helped by a passer-by, who leaves her at writer Flávio Martins's house, a man torn between the proposal of an arranged marriage, an old flame, and the new guest.—[email protected]

In the slums of São Paulo in the 30's, Carmen is a young woman abused by her stepfather. She leaves her home and finds that her boyfriend Milton is married. While looking for a job, she faints on the street and is helped by the writer Flávio. She moves to his house and maritally lives with him. Flávio becomes shared between the love for Carmen, the desire for his former fiancée and the passion and self-interest for a wealthy young daughter of a powerful judge.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil