This is the love story between José Duarte, a law student at the University of Coimbra (the oldest and most traditional university in Portugal and one of the oldest universities in Europe), and a modest and simple girl named Maria de Lisboa, who truly loves him. But she's afraid that all happiness will end when the school year's over and students leave the city for their homes and hometowns. The couple will live difficult times, quarrels and intrigues, and when José ultimately leaves her and becomes a famous singer by singing traditional songs of the student environment. But while José achieves fame and fortune, Maria is pregnant with his son, and she's fearful of the shame of being a single mother. When the baby is born, she seeks him for help but she doesn't find him. In desperation, she tries to leave the baby in his doorstep but she's seen, denounced and arrested. Will José help Maria escape from prison and public shame?