 Orlando Vargas has lived with his wife, Alice, and son, Thomas, in Uruguay for years now, subject to a great deal of pressure from the Uruguayan government. His assistant Gaspar is concerned for him, and others praise him for his courage. Orlando s steps are always controlled by a policeman, but he seems indifferent to the danger ahead. Only son Thomas is witness to the anger his father tries to drown out with alcohol. Orlando surprises his family when he decides to leave with Alice and Thomas for Josefina, a remote village on the shore just prior to the Brazilian border. In Josefina, he is apparently awaited. On the day the family arrives, Orlando goes to the desolate town bar, does not come home. It seems Alice will finally have to face the truth about hr husband.