On one night in 1981, journalist Gregório Montana, suffers a mysterious assassination attempt in his mansion in the Urca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. Otávio is 18 years in a coma, in a state of lethargic encephalitis, also known as "the disease of sleep", feeding and moving with the help of nurses, but maintaining unconsciousness. Fortunately, he receives an innovative treatment carried out by Dr. Lydia Leblon, physician expert in the disease, but little hopeful for the total recovery of Otávio, until an accident with the hospital machines causes Otávio to receive an electric discharge and recover his life. However, part of his memory is disstructured. He only remembers the facts that occurred in 1968, well before the accident. At that time, he was engaged to the beautiful Eva Rocha. Later, he discovers that he married, had three daughters and that Eve died mysteriously.