1961. The edition and publication of "Canticle of the Country Emerso", by Natalia Correia by the writer and editor Luiz Pacheco. The launch takes place in the first neighborhood of Lisbon, the Bairro da Alegria. This launch is an aesthetic and political gesture at a time when the dictatorial regime that governs the country hardens positions. The visit of the young Nordic girl, Ebba Merete Seidenfaden, nicknamed SNU - in Danish "smart" - to the country of her husband, Vasco Abecassis. Portugal, a peripheral country, with a colonial war that has just hatched, and living under a dictatorial regime, makes it redouble the attention with which it listens and forms opinions. For this, the observation that makes the environment of the Abecassis, from the maids (the son of a cook goes to the war in Angola) to the social circle, diversified but elitist. Mariano, a young man without the studies completed, protected by a Padrinho who works in Censura, is a candidate, receives instruction and enters the pictures of Pide. Prison of the journalist and professor José Manuel Tengarrinha. Maria Armanda Falcão, his wife, watches the debauchery of his house by Pide.

1961 - 1962. The steps taken by Maria Armanda Falcão in the face of the no-fault arrest of Tengarrinha. The violence of PIDE interrogations. PIDE does not get the elements for the process to proceed. Pressed, threatened and dismissed, Maria Armanda has to solve the bond problem, necessary for the release of the husband, while the process waits for better proof. Capt. João Varela Gomes, a friend of Natalia and Maria Armanda, prepares and leads a military coup to the regime, scheduled for the night of the year. That night, there is a party in Natalia's apartment and literary hall. He is shot and abandoned at the door of a hospital, the clandestine communist José Dias Coelho, married to Margarida Tengarrinha, sister of José Manuel Tengarrinha. Margarida, also in the clandestinity, lives the tragic anguish of this death. A young and passionate poet, Dórdio Guimarães, presents himself for the first time at Natália's house. The military coup in Beja fails, and its leader, Varela Gomes, is seriously injured. Maria Armanda gets bail money and José Manuel Tengarrinha is finally released.

He arrives in Lisbon, imbued with a spirit of rupture and conquest, Fernando Ribeiro de Mello, poetic designer and future editor. She enters Natalia's circle and challenges her mentor to organize an Anthology of Portuguese Erotic and Satirical Poetry. Natália accepts and invites him to be part of the recital that will happen in the Society of Fine Arts. Snu, Vasco and Mikaela, the eldest daughter, return definitively from the USA and go to live in the same building as the Vasco family. Snu tries to adapt to his new life. After the liberation of José Manuel Tengarrinha and the dismissal of Maria Armanda, the couple experiences difficult times. At the suggestion of journalist and writer Sttau Monteiro, friend of Maria Armanda and Natalia, António, a young freelance photographer, does photographic reporting on student protests. In these protests are involved three young people: Joana, student of Letters, and the pair Gabriel and Madalena - he student of Mathematics, she of Medicine. As a consequence, Gabriel is arrested.

1963 - 1964. Snu, tries to deal with the idiosyncrasies of the country, with the difficulties of the Portuguese language and begins to read in Portuguese. At the same time, she is part of the Abecassis family, but is not satisfied with the passivity that goes through her life. Maria Armanda responds affirmatively to the appeal of her friend Sttau Monteiro to intercede in favor of the imprisoned student, Gabriel, the son of the typographer. Maria Armanda resorts to a family friendship and sees herself before a high official of the State to defend Gabriel. The translations she does with her husband give to survive. Maria Armanda feeds the dream of writing and entering journalism. However, the weight of the day-to-day begins to affect the love relationship. With the complicity of Natália, and as a strategy of affirmation and publicity, Ribeiro de Mello staged "O Teste", in the Society of Fine Arts, an event that consists of a poetic and reading poems with timely applause, opposing different literary currents. Those supported by Ribeiro de Mello win "The Test". Snu, confronted with the problem of censorship by reading a French and Portuguese translation of a translation by Ana Karenina, decides to found a publisher in Portugal: Don Quixote. Young Gabriel, though released, receives the letter announcing compulsory incorporation into the army.

Herculana, Natalya's maid, needs a reinforcement in domestic service. After a casting of candidates, Natalia is bewitched by Juliet. This turns out to be a daring personage and begins to prevaricar in the kingdom of Natália. Snu and Vasco seek partners to embark on the founding of a publishing house. Snu becomes aware of the Portuguese reality, through the son of the maid Lurdes who departs for war. Gabriel does the recruit. He is a young observer, distanced from the routine of most of his companions, who is silent about the revolt against the course of the country. Only Magdalene has access to this closed world. Maria Armanda explores the possibility of returning to RTP with the support of her husband Zé Manuel. The brothers David and Esteves, employees of the hotel of Natalia's husband, make plans for a future far from Portugal.

Natalia Correia's father is in Lisbon and there is the possibility of a meeting. He is missing, without any justification, leaving Natalia devastated. Maria Armanda misunderstood that José Manuel did not value what she writes and did not encourage her to find a job outside the home. The misunderstandings between the couple begin. Julieta, at the urging of Roberto, her boyfriend, steals more and more risk at Natalia's house, eventually being fired. The brothers David and Esteves are faced with a dilemma: only one of them can make the leap to France. Snu, he's a mother for the second time. Vasco receives the letter to go to military service for Guinea. When Snu knows, she is disappointed with Vasco. Neves Pedro, becomes a member of Don Quixote Publications. Gabriel deserted the army and crossed the border clandestinely in the company of David.