Somewhere in 19th-century Cantabria, Adelaida (Elena Anaya) meets and falls in love with Eusebio (Eduardo Noriega). Unfortunately, Eusebio is drafted for the Spanish-Cuban war. When news comes that he has died, Adelaida refuses to believe it, and her repressive family throws her into the local nuthouse, where, after a time, she realizes that she can do some good and rebels against her family.