The painter Tino, in professional and political crisis, receives a telegram from his mother-in-law, Selma, announcing her return from Europe. After his wife's death, Tino continues living with Selma, with whom he had ambiguous relations, which he now wants to sever. Weak at this impossible love, he asks the maid Enedina to lock him in his room. There, he revives memories through letters, notes and photographs. Selma's son João is waiting for her at the airport and dreams of loving fulfillment in his own mother's arms.

Com base na novela "Matéria de Memória" de Carlos Heitor Cony, o filme conta a história de um viúvo que mantém um relacionamento ambíguo com sua sogra, que mora em sua casa. Ele decide se trancar em seu quarto, revivendo a memória através de velhas cartas e fotos.