The poor Zé Branco travels from Paraíba and arrives in Rio de Janeiro to live with his friend Zé Preto, who is a factory's worker, in a room in a slum expecting to win and have a better life in Rio. Zé gets temporary work; begs in front of a church; sells ice-cream on the beach; sings in a TV show; but life is not easy in the big city. Meanwhile he saves the blind Branca while crossing the street and they have a crush on each other. But Branca is courted by the dangerous former police detective Miguel Matoso. When Preto is fired from his job, he becomes a criminal and moves to a hideout. Meanwhile, Zé has an affair with photographer Débora, but he does not forget Branca. During the Carnival, Zé sees Branca with Miguel and he kidnaps the girl, and the result is tragic.