Francisquita is in love with student and would-be poet, Fernando. He, however, is infatuated with the fiery actress Aurora la Beltrana, who in turn is the lover of Lorenzo Pérez. When Francisquita tries to flirt with Fernando, he ignores her. His friend Cardona takes him to task and suggests that he would be happier with her than Aurora. At first, Doña Francisca mistakenly believes that she is the object of don Matías' affections. Francisquita pretends to accept the elderly man's advances, hoping to make Fernando jealous.