When a young boy from a shanty town near Rio de Janeiro gets a coveted pair of white trousers for Christmas his joy knows no bounds. Not getting them dirty, however, presents certain difficulties for a lively slum kid.

Four deserters from Paraguay War hide in an old drunkard's country seat. The latter has two daughters who are unhappy with their recluse lives.

Bento de Souza, a devotee of São João, is not reciprocated by his wife, Inocência, who cheats on him with Trindade, a rogue who lives off Bento himself. That year, disgusted by the rumors about him, Bento decided to expel Trindade from the house.

A millionaire invites some friends for a weekend on an island, where some say there is a buried treasure. But a storm takes the boat away, and they stay isolated from the rest of the world. In these conditions, everybody starts to show their real nature and character.