A glum, middle-aged bachelor, Don Andres, is the heir of a formerly wealthy and respected Chilean family. Andres suffers from decadence and solitude. He hires young Estela in order to look after his abusive and almost crazy grandmother. The differences in class and age don't stop Andres from courting Estela, whose fiancé Mario tries to make some money off of his well-to-do rival. The suffocating atmosphere of the run-down mansion mimics the deterioration of the Bourgeoisie, and threatens Andres own mental state.