In 1953, the boy Lauro witnesses from the wardrobe where he is hidden, his mother Teresa being raped and accidentally murdered by Ferreira. In the present days (1983), Lauro abducts Ferreira's daughter Miriam to revenge the death of his mother with the intention of killing Miriam. Meanwhile, a gang led by Careca abducts Lídia, the daughter of the businessman Mr. Lopes, with the intention of obtaining the payment of a large amount of ransom. However, one of the criminals rapes Lídia in a hotel room on the eighth floor of a low-budget hotel and the woman commits suicide, jumping off through the window. Lauro switches Lidia's identity by Miriam's. Mr. Lopes raises the amount to release his daughter while Ferreira hires gangsters to seek out his daughter. The criminals chase Careca's gang by mistake believing that they have kidnapped Miriam. Meanwhile, Lauro and Miriam fall in love with each other.