A desperate odyssey through Portugal starts from a small town in the north of the country. It′s home to a young widow named Tania and her son, Rato. Tania′s grief over her husband′s death has caused her to neglect her son. She has no idea that he is drifting towards a life of crime. A burglary at the school causes Tania to worry, since all evidence points toward Rato′s involvement in the crime. He is arrested and the authorities decide he should be sent to a home for juvenile delinquents. Tania can′t bear for this to happen. She helps him escape from prison, and decides that they should flee to Lisbon. Rato insists on bringing his girlfriend Liliana with them. As they head cross-country, sometimes on foot. Liliana decides to turn back. Her departure improves the relationship between mother and son. Then all of a sudden something terrible occurs...