A politician, Octavio, has discovered damaging information about the regional Governor who has recently crushed a strike at the urging of "foreign interests". Octavio is hunted by the Governor's bodyguards who wish to kill him and recover the documents he has stolen. While hiding in a cinema, Octavio bumps into Julieta who takes him home to hide. Julieta and her husband Ignacio are old friends of Octavio as they had been student activists together. Despite agreeing to help, Ignacio is resentful of Octavio because of the past relationship he had with Julieta. Octavio discovers that it is an unhappy marriage, Ignacio has a mistress while Julieta is forced to work as a taxi dancer in a cabaret to make ends meet.
Julieta shoots dead a government spy who has discovered Octavio's location. She helps Octavio reach a train which will enable him to go to Mexico City and present evidence exposing the Governor. Julieta plans to elope with him, but at the last moment turns back to stay with Ignacio.
