In the time of the "cangaceiros" in the badlands of the Northeast of Brazil, the cruel Captain Galdino Ferreira and his band abduct the schoolteacher Olívia, expecting to receive a ransom for her. However, one of his men, Teodoro, falls in love and flees with her through the arid backcountry chased by the brigands.
The humble Zacarias goes to the big city with his wife to help their son who wants to be a Doctor. There he gets a job, and lives a lot of funny adventures as a taxi driver.
Young writer sells a soap-opera script to a TV network and manages to place his girlfriend in an important role.
