The central theme of the soap opera is the struggle for political control in the interior of Bahia between the two most powerful *coronéis* (landowning bosses) of the cocoa region: Sinhô Badaró and Horácio da Silveira. Virgílio, an ambitious lawyer, is summoned to the town by Colonel Horácio but ends up becoming involved with Ester, the colonel's wife. Captain João Magalhães is a card sharp who poses as a military engineer, successfully deceiving the entire town. He falls in love with Sinhô Badaró's daughter, Donana. By the end of the story, he reveals that he had only gotten close to the Badarós out of opportunism. After numerous clashes with Sinhô Badaró, Colonel Horácio secures political power in the town of Ferradas, with the acknowledgment of the local population.
João Magalhães
Donana
Virgílio Cabral
Ester
Margô
Coronel Horácio da Silveira
Sinhô Badaró
Juca Badaró
Olga
Dr. Carlos Zude
Coronel Maneca Dantas
Vampireza
Amarelo Joaquim
Damião
Silveirinha
Rui Dantas
Coronel Teodoro das Baraúnas
Sergipano
Raimunda
Argemiro
João Grilo
Pepe
Julieta Zude
Sérgio Moura
Dr. Jessé Freitas
Dr. Genaro Torres
Coronel Clementino
Auricídea
Firmo
Brás Velho
Maria Sonsa
Padre Bento
João Vermelho
Viriato
Venâncio
Tonico Borges
Isaltina
Dona Menininha
Carangau
Vicente Carangau
Tereza
Jarde
Rosa
Vicente
cabo
soldado
filha de Damião
empregado da fazenda
empregado da fazenda
empregado da fazenda