A 17th century woman, imprisoned for fighting in a bar, recounts her past to a priest. She tells of her father teaching her how to fence, of being sent to a convent by her aunt when her father died, of escaping by dressing as a man, and of her life as a man following the escape.
Santa is a beautiful and very humble young girl living in Chimalistac, a small and quiet spot south of the 1930's Mexico City. After Santa is cheated by arrogant soldier Marcelino, she's rejected by her family and friends and expelled of Chimalistac. Santa finds shelter in a whorehouse and becomes a cinic and bitter woman, mistreated by bullfighter "Jarameno" and silently loved by blind pianist Hipolito
Before marrying María Eugenia, landowner Carlos are away to visit her godmother to break the promise to marry his daughter. The godmother is dying, Carlos quiets and everything takes an unexpected course.
Manuel leaves town leaving Soledad in deep sadness. After several years of absence, the young man returns to find Soledad married to Antonio. However, the woman continues to be in love with him and both are determined to consummate their love.