The shepherd boy Besame is lucky, with the help of the old maestro he becomes a student at the conservatory and begins to learn to play the flute. But the governor and other envious people lock Besame in a correctional cell to learn the ruthless rules of life. Here he is tortured, deprived of music, accustomed to money, and turned into a strong animal. Besame's metamorphosis frightens even the bullies, but the maestro saves the young man again - the sound of the flute washes away all the filth from Besame, returning love and freedom.

The story of two couples - Xico and Olga, Tuca and Dina - through 20 years of friendship, from adolescent dreams to maturity frustrations. They meet in a small town in the State of São Paulo, but one of the couples decides to try their luck in the big city. As background, the political events in the 60's and 70's, and how they affect their lives.