An employee of a glass factory suffers with his wife's contempt and starts to develop homicidal delusions about her. One night, he meets a singer which resembles his wife a lot and conjures up a plan.

In the Rio de Janeiro Central Station, the infamous pickpocket Mão Leve meets Honorina—a Northeastern girl looking for a job—with whom he falls in love. Willing to conquer her, the thief decides to abandon his life of crime, but soon finds out it won't be easy.