In 1940's Madrid. Juan plays piano for Pepita and her on-stage partner Mario. Although Mario really wants to steal Juan for himself, Juan is not interested and Mario resorts to a string of lovers as consolation. When he loves (and leaves) a young nobleman, the young man wants revenge.
In the early Spanish Civil Post-war, in Madrid, during the most hard times of the Franco dictatorship, a group of second-rate players try to get out of their wretched lives taking advantage of the artistic caprices of the son of a rich man who supports the regime. They try to stage a Pre-war 'zarzuela' (a sort of Spanish operetta), 'La Corte Del Faraón', which ironically, thirty years later, is too obscene for the regime censorship. They finally manage to perform the 'zarzuela' but end up in the police station where they confirm that justice depends on which side are you on
On the way to his exile in Lisbon, Mario meets Silvia, a widow who turns out to be one of his admirers. Silvia has inherited a fortune, leading Mario to resume his career, eventually falling for him. Although Mario has relations with her, he makes it clear that will never fall in love. In Madrid, Juan Pepita and resume their relationship, and because of this the jilted Nena John Colman murders before Pepita, after being arrested. Pepita accepts a contract in Argentina, reunited with Mario. There he meets Tulio, who after starting a relationship with singer eventually ask marriage.
Ana is a middle aged woman who many years ago decided to start a new life in Paris. Now she must return to her hometown after the death of her parents, since they have left her an inheritance. There she meets Laura, her only sister, with whom she has to share the money received and, especially, an old house located in the center of Guadalajara. Now, the two women will have to leave the differences and problems behind that have arisen in the past to catch up and recover the fraternal relationship. Written by lament
