In Bahia, an educated black man returns to his home fishing village to try and free people from mysticism, in particular the Candomblé religion, which he considers a factor of political and social oppression, with tragic outcome.
The naive sailor Ron arrives in Bahia to visit the famous Água dos Meninos street market. There, however, he is passed behind by the prostitute Maria, lover of the bandit Chico Diabo, who stabs him. He, however, can't forget her.