The central story is a beautiful love story. It is the story of Carlota, the daughter of the Vimieiro Counts (who are broke), who spend their vacations at Vidago Palace every year. The previous year, Carlota was betrothed to César, the son of some very wealthy Portuguese emigrants in Brazil who were also vacationing at Vidago Palace.

The wedding is set for the last day of vacation that same year. The problem is that Carlota does not love César, but Pedro, the son of the Vidago Palace's receptionist, who also met on the same vacation of the previous year and who, for reasons unknown to everyone except Carlota's mother, left Portugal and is fighting in the Spanish Civil War alongside the Popular Front.

But fate causes Carlota to find Pedro again in August 1936, in dramatic situations, and finally discovers the truth. From there, everything is called into question...

August 2, 1936. Before an elegant audience, the Vidago Palace golf course is inaugurated by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Marechal Óscar Carmona.

However, Pedro remains inanimate, in the place where he was slaughtered the previous night by the Spanish Civil Guard. His escape companions, Pepe, Dolores and Xoán, are convinced that he has died. Before returning to Spain, they decide to go to Vidago to inform Pedro's family of what happened. Inspector Lopes watches them from a window.

Carlota, who ignores all these recent events, ends up confessing herself to her best friend, São, the sister of César Augusto. She tells her everything: that she and Pedro are in love but that he went to the Spanish war without even saying goodbye to her.

That same night, during the gala, César Augusto tries to persuade Carlota to anticipate the wedding night, but is interrupted by Rosinha, Pedro's younger sister, who appears tearful and reveals to Carlota that Pedro died.

Carlota is in shock. Unable to think, run without destination...

Carlota discovers Pedro prostrate in the hut, wounded and delirious, semi-unconscious. He can only say, with difficulty, "help me, Dolores." Carlota, with the help of her parents, take care of Pedro.

Meanwhile, Xóan and Dolores, who managed to escape from the border guards, arrive at the Vidago Palace. Carlota is intrigued to hear the name Dolores and realize that it is she whom Pedro called in his delirium.

Alberto tells the two fugitives that Pedro is alive. They are happy, but the news they bring are diverse: they suspect that Pepe was taken prisoner.

Pepe was, indeed, taken prisoner and stands before the cold and relentless Commissioner Lopes. Under torture, the boy finally confesses that Dolores Câncio, the well-known Republican, was part of the group that tried to escape from Spain to Portugal.

Pedro is recovering physically, but his heart continues to be sore for what he believes to have been a Carlota's betrayal. They were in love and determined to flee together, but suddenly she returned to Lisbon without any warning, leaving, as a farewell, only a letter ending the relationship.

It is the mother of Pedro, Júlia, who tells him that if he is still alive it is thanks to Carlota. Pedro is confused. If she doesn't want him, why did she care so much about him? He makes a decision...