 In 1932, in São Paulo, when the sick whore Rosita (Célia Coutinho) dies, the warmhearted former prostitute and owner of a bordello Dona Violante Miranda (Dercy Gonçalves) raises her daughter Filhinha (Célia Coutinho) as if she were of her own. Violante inclusive marries her mate, Dr. Polidoro (Elísio de Albuquerque), to make Filhinha be accepted in the best schools and raise the girl in silver spoon. Later, she moves to a farm in the country and becomes a successful local citizen and first lady of the place. Near to the wedding day of Filhinha with Gastão, the son of a powerful farmer, his father investigates the past of Violante and calls off the wedding. Violante discloses the secret of Filhinha s origins.