Friends Severina and Maria José struggle to survive in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. The first is a widow who sells flowers and the second has a lover who does little to help with expenses. Their children sell peanuts during the day. One day, the children get lost and are found again at Jaks' house, who offers to sell Severina certain suspicious merchandise, disguised among the roses.

In the late 19th century, Jesuíno Brilhante swears to avenge his cousin, the republican and abolitionist Botelho, who was killed by powerful landlords. Government troops and a rival family unite to hunt down Jesuíno, who has assembled his own band of armed men.