A pilot is called back to his homeland, the Latin American republic of Arepa, by the rich islanders to participate in a complot to kill the dictator known as El León (The Lion).
Rosita is a young Puerto Rican woman, beautiful but for her scarred face, which she views as a curse. She ignores the men who serenade her nightly for a manipulative man who pursues her for the money she inherited.
In a small rural town, everybody lays eyes on Maruja, the most beautiful woman there. After the son of the mayor comes back from France, he also notices Maruja, setting forth events of love, jealousy, guilt, and anger.