A federal detachment commanded by colonel Rosas, arrives to a small town to repress revolutionaries. To the population’s uproar, Rosas brings his mistress, Julia, with him. And his officers are also accompanied by women: lieutenant Flores brings Luisa, captain Cruz brings Rafaela and Rosa, and Corona brings Antonia, who is in love with Alvarez, one of the soldiers. Young Isabel, who is Nicolas’ and Juan’ sister, feels an attraction toward Rosas, but he is perturbed by Hurtado’s apparition, with whom Julia has an enigmatic relationship.

Rosas, who isn’t able to control his passion toward Julia, supposedly permits her to run away with Hurtado. Rosas cruelly represses the inhabitants: he sends soldiers to kill Juan, and locks the rich people in a party, where Isabel agrees to make love to him, to save Nicolas from being executed with many others. But Nicolas prefers to be killed with all the rest. Rosas, desperate, leaves town; Isabel goes after him, but she turns into a rock.