In Madragoa, Zé Luís, a man of the people devoted to his work, is in love with Clara, the daughter of Santana das Carnes, his godfather and protector, who intends to marry her to D. Eusébio with the intention of financing his business. When Santana discovers the romance, he fires Zé Luís and forces him to break it off, convincing him that he owes his marriage to Margarida, a young woman of the same upbringing. Zé Luís finds employment at the docks, Margarida dies of illness, Santana goes bankrup...