Sampa

The dreams and problems of three friends: Malagueta, an inveterate gambler; Perus, former factory worker who abandoned the assembly line to earn his living at the billiards; and Bacanaço, trickster who puts on chic airs, always dreaming of performing the ultimate big swindle.

The soap opera critiques the power struggles among rural politicians in the 1920s. Joaquim is shocked when a doctor reveals that his son, Luís Jerônimo, has a lung lesion. To recover his health, the young man leaves Rio de Janeiro for Colonel Boanerges's farm in Vila da Mata, Espírito Santo. There, he meets Zuca, and the two fall in love. Zuca is the colonel's goddaughter and the fiancée of the fearless cowboy Tobias, who refuses to accept the possibility of losing her to the outsider. Zuca and Luís Jerônimo face numerous obstacles in pursuing their love. Their romance is also threatened by the arrival of Pepa in Vila da Mata; having been in love with Luís Jerônimo back when he lived in Rio, she tries by every means possible to drive the couple apart.

The cheerful and outgoing Jordana lived alongside Silas for 20 years, helping him become wealthy. Despite this, he abandons her to run away with the opportunistic Carla. After the separation, Jordana faces financial difficulties. She then meets Dona Mena, an eccentric and lonely old woman abandoned by her family. Jordana takes care of Dona Mena and, when she dies, inherits four bronze cupids containing a million dollars. The problem is that the cupids disappear without a trace. The cupids become the subject of a fight between Dona Mena's nephews, Loreta and Carlito. The two are the villains of the story. Jordana, however, ends up falling in love with Carlito. In the final chapters, Jordana manages to recover the cupids and rebuild her life. She has the help of her friend Vieira.

The story follows the lives of Naná and Gegê, a pair of con artists. Gegê is the uncle of Tina Pepper, a Tina Turner fan who dreams of becoming a famous singer.

Otavio is an idealistic union leader trying to organize workers at a factory to resist the company's exploitative practices. His son, Tião, one of the employees, is more of a realist and doesn't want to risk losing his job by striking. This clash of perspectives puts the father and son at odds. Fortunately, Tião's mother, Romana, is on hand to act as a moderator between the two opinionated men.

Four stories intertwine, revolving around moral dilemmas of life in society. A secret unites student Alice and mega-businessman Raul Pelegrini, who are major ideological opponents.

Jocasta, an 18-year-old sociology student and daughter of communist activist Túlio Silveira, is actively involved in the country's political landscape. She is in love with Laio—her polar opposite—a disengaged, esoteric young man who lives off his wealthy father's allowance. A mystic, Laio makes no move without consulting his guru and friend Argemiro, whom he turns to upon learning of Jocasta's pregnancy. The cowrie shell reading reveals that his son is destined to kill him and enter into a romantic relationship with his mother. Terrified, Laio disappears with the child immediately after birth, aided by Argemiro—who loves Laio and loathes Jocasta. Twenty-five years later, Jocasta is a successful yet restless woman searching for her missing son. She is estranged from Laio, who has spent recent years expanding his father's fortune through involvement in underground gambling. On a highway, he encounters Oedipus, unaware that the young man is his son.

Augusto Matraga is a violent agressive farmer who, after being betrayed by his wife and trapped by several enemies, is beaten up and left for dead, being rescued by a couple of humble small farmers who nurse him for a long time until he is well again. Influenced by the couple, Matraga starts a long penitent life while waiting for his hour and chance to payback, starting a fight between his violent nature, his hidden desire of vengeance and the mysticism and goodness which is also part of him.

Maria do Carmo becomes wealthy through her father's business dealings and becomes a successful businesswoman, but she retains the habits of her humble past.

The story revolves around the conflicts within Silvana and Oliva's family—her mother and paternal grandfather—who are fighting for custody of Zeca after the child's father dies.