In Rio de Janeiro, the idealistic Roberto is the pride and joy of his professors and has just graduated in the Law School with great praise. Roberto is a family man and he leaves his girlfriend Clarisse to travel to the countryside to celebrate his graduation with his father Mário, his mother Jandira and his little sister Lurdinha. Meanwhile, his family is being robbed by their employees Nestor, Geraldão, Léo "Carvão" and Souza. However, Mário is nervous and can not recall the secret of his safe. The thieves are excited and violent, and when Roberto arrives at home, he is hit on the head and faints. Then their maid Almerinda finds the piece of paper with the numbers of the safe and the delinquents get the money. But the criminals kill the whole family to avoid eye witnesses. Roberto miraculously survives, but disturbed and with the heart full of rage. He quits his career, leaves Clarisse and wanders completely lost through the underground of Rio. When he saves the gambler Toninho from two crooks, the youngster invites Roberto to stay with him in the boarding house where he lives. Toninho and his gay friend Vanuza befriend Roberto and the accidentally discover who Roberto is. Toninho decides to help Roberto to find the killers and revenge the death of his family. But the wrath of Roberto is destructive, spoiling every relationships and friendships.