David, an engineer hired to build an industrial facility, arrives at a traditional hacienda on the Peruvian coast. He travels with Ramón, a scatterbrained assistant. The hacienda belongs to the Herrera family. Among its residents are Doña Rosario, the founder's widow, and her daughter, Marta. The foreman is courting Marta. She is carefree and vain, which leads her to mock David's reserved and fastidious nature. But little by little, Marta finds herself drawn to him. The foreman frowns upon the romance, and his jealousy drives him to seek ways to discredit David.