Maria Papoila, a shepherdess from Beira working in Lisbon, one day meets a rich young man, Eduardo, whom she assumes to be of her own social standing due to his uniform as a private soldier. Some time later, arrested as a suspect in a major robbery, Eduardo is abandoned by his selfish fiancée, Margarida, and it is the "soup girl" who, although despised in her dream and sacrificing her honor, appears in court as Eduardo's lover, and he is acquitted. Without asking for anything in return, Maria Papoila returns to her village.

During the inauguration of Brasília, Brazil's brand new capital city, singer and ballerina Gilda hides in a working-class night club to escape from an inconvenient millionaire who's trying to date her.

The Fidalgos da Casa Mourisca are ruined. Poor management and the pride of D. Luís have led the estate to this situation. However, Jorge, the eldest son, is not happy with this and decides to ask for help from a farmer who has prospered: Tomé da Póvoa. Tomé da Póvoa has a daughter who was educated outside the village and is now returning home. Jorge falls in love with her. But the proud and inflexible D. Luís, Jorge's father, does not agree with either Jorge's proposed economic recovery plan or his passion for a commoner.

Costa is travelling from Africa to London, and wishes very much to his nephew Amadeu, and see by himself how well he has been invested large sums of money he is been sending him. Amadeu 'borrows' for 24 hours a wife, a villa, a car, and a servant - for he has been lies to his uncle all the time. All goes well. But, Costa decides to prolong his stay for two weeks...

The characteristic loves of Margarida and Clara, the distinct moral of Pedro and Daniel, the goodness of João Semana, and the dissidents, sensibility, tenderness, rituals and landscape involvement of the Minho.