Macabéa, a nineteen-year-old northeastern girl, orphaned by her father, mother and the aunt who raised her, goes to São Paulo to be a typist. She lives in a boarding house and has a life without many emotions, as she is indifferent to them. She meets Olímpico de Jesus and the two start dating. However, the relationship doesn't last and Olímpico ends up leaving Macabéa for Glória, his ex-girlfriend's work colleague, who, on the recommendation of her fortune teller, steals Macabéa's boyfriend.