 Laerte is a musician who is in love with his cousin, but consumed by an obsessive jealousy, especially of his friend Virgílio (Humberto Martins), who has always fostered a platonic love for Helena.Helena herself has a strong personality and has never accepted the possessive side of her problematic boyfriend, although she keeps teasing him.On the night before his marriage to Helena, Laerte argues with Virgílio and strikes him across the face.