20-year-old André hasn't finished his studies. He works in a book and stationery store in a working-class neighbourhood of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. He lives with his mother, likes drawing and likes Sílvia. He desperately needs 38 reales. Sílvia is 18. She goes to night school and works during the day in a clothes shop. She lives with her father and likes reading. Sílvia has an appointment she can't miss on the summit of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. Marinês is André's workmate. She looks great in dresses she can't afford to buy. She winds Cardoso round her little finger. The boy is in love with her and has stopped smoking because she asked him to. André needs 38 reales to buy a dress and save Sílvia's life. He invents all sorts of ways to make money and they all work. And that's when the problems start.