In Copacabana, idle middle-class Carlos is a womanizer with a washed-up marriage with Sueli. Carlos is unemployed; he has no money, and he and his family must leave their apartment soon because their landlord has just evicted them. Carlos has extramarital sex with several woman; one of his favorites is hot Carmen. He also likes to spend his leisure time drinking with his friends Luiz and Ernesto. When Carlos discovers the resemblance of his son Renatinho to his neighbor Robertinho, he assumes that Sueli has cheated him, so he decides to commit suicide, leaving her a a tape telling about his affairs. But he isn't brave enough to kill himself and returns home alive. He goes to Carneval wearing a vampire costume and wanders alone on the streets, dancing and flirting. Meanwhile, Sueli's friend Vera invites her to join her and her two friends on a trip to Barra da Tijuca. Sueli dons an odalisque costume and they go to a bar. She drinks too much, but when a man tries to force himself on her, she does not accept and is left behind on the beach. On Ash Wednesday, Sueli and Carlos dance in the living room of their apartment celebrating their reunion.
—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil