In the pre-civil war American south, Emanuelle, a plantation owner's daughter, while outwardly a dainty southern belle, brutally abuses the slaves in her charge. When her fiance is bitten by a snake, he falls for Emanuelle's beautiful African-American maid who's kindness and skill saved his life. Insanely jealous, Emanuelle continues her sadistic behaviour towards her charges, and when her fiance announces he plans to wed the maid, Emanuelle "gives" her to her even more brutal hired men, and her fiance is powerless to stop them. Can Emanuelle learn an important lesson in love before it's too late for everyone?

Not America, nor Africa, but the Lazio countryside provides the backdrop for this intricate story of death and more or less incestuous love affairs, inspired by the successful American film Mandingo.

The increasingly politicised Emanuelle gets deeper into fighting an international trade composed of sex, violence and high profile players.