the lieutenant colonel, named artur, went to seek his wife at a cancer institute only to discover that she had died just before his return. his memories were haunted by an african man he shot. he joined a military regiment and was promoted to the rank of commander. as members of the military conspired to overthrow the government, the captain, named mendes, came to the lieutenant colonel to try to convince him to join the uprising, but he does not have his troops participate in the revolt.