Doña Pina is a despotic mother who favors her younger son Elis over Lorenz, consequently stoking sibling rivalry between the brothers. Doña Pina lets Elis study in Manila while she makes Lorenz work their farm. She loves Elis’ bastard son with their maid while she is stern with Lorenz’s children. Then Elis comes home with Cita, the woman he plans to marry, and with a desire to have the farm. Asked to give way, Lorenz leaves with his family and stays with friends. But Lorenz’s indignant wife Becky confronts her mother in-law about her unfairness and the ensuing struggle leads to her miscarriage and death. Urged on by friends, the tension between brothers Elis and Lorenz grows into an armed conflict.