Thiago Lacerda

Sol and Tião are born to different social backgrounds—she to a poor suburban family in Rio, and him to an even poorer family who raised cattle in West São Paulo State. They eventually meet, due to unlikely circumstances, but part again, as she has set as her ultimate priority to reach the United States or bust. While she comes to the U.S. to live as an illegal immigrant, he remains in Brazil and, despite many trials and tribulations, he becomes a successful rodeo cowboy.

After stirring society by leaving her groom at the alter and going directly to a prostitution house, a young model becomes the city's most famous harlot, known as "Hilda the Hurricane", in the 50's Brazil. She could do fine if it wasn't for Malthus, a young novice said to be a saint, for whom she falls in love. However, the boy is kept under the strict, severe doctrine of Father Nelson, a conservative priest intolerant even to every minor sin. Things start getting harder when Roberto, Malthus' old friend and a communist reporter (the actual author of the story), tries to interview Hilda and disclosure the real reasons behind her radical change of mind. In the meantime, the middle-classes are terrified by the "leftist threat" in Brazilian politics.

Nanda must rethink her plansof studying in Amsterdam when she discovers she is pregnant. After losing the support of her boyfriend Léo, the young girl decides to return home, where she suffers a serious accident and dies.However, Helena, her doctor, is able to save her new-born twins: Francisco and Clara. Unfortunately, Clara suffers from Downs Syndrome. Helena feels a strong emotional tie to Clara and adopts her.Years later, the twins’father Léo, a young and wealthy businessman, returns to the scene, wanting to gain custody of the children.However, Helena and Alex fight to the end to retain guardianship of the twins, whom they have raised with such love.