Having lost everything, delegated to cleaning and scrubbing floors, she breaks down, refuses to eat, talk and sleep. After making her final confession to Father Miguel, who is deeply in love with her, she leaves for her native village, which is dramatically decimated by the Spanish Pox. Soon the mission nuns join her. The story takes us through the transformation of a woman from an isolated spoiled brat to a saintly protector of her people, willing to sacrifice herself to save those around her. It is a sensual story of repression.
Desire is in the air.
The characters are torn between their various allegiances and are trying to find themselves. They ran away from Spain to look for something better, or at least different, they didn't fit in Spanish society and still, they remain prisoners of their culture. Her father's death and the loss of all of her work, forces her to concentrate on her soul. As all material things are taken away from her, it is then that she starts to discover her true inner calling. Do not force faith by punishment, have faith by love, by helping, by healing.