[1] Rafael, a young man from the provinces, works as a waiter in a resort and helps himself economically having sex for money with rich older women.

She helps Rafael finds a new job in Madrid as the gardener in the mansion of Antonio Fernández Herrador, Minister of economy in the new democratic Spanish government.

Rafael quickly adapts in his job as a gardener and befriends Chema, the son of Angelina the mansion's housekeeper.

Rafael is brought to the notice of his employers when he suffers a mild injury during a botched attempt to the life of the minister.

Teresa, sexually frustrated with her husband's impotence, begins to pay attention to the attractive young gardener.

Soon after, the Marchioness presses the Minister Fernández Herrador to help her obtain a large bank loan necessary to save her from total economic ruin.

Desperate, Rafael asks for help to the Marchioness since she still has powerful friends in the security forces loyal to the old regime.

Confronted with his wife threats of divorce, the minister reluctantly accepts the situation since otherwise a scandal would ruin his political ambitions.

Lara assigns the investigation of the terrorist kidnapping threats to Romero, a hard-boiled detective linked with the security forces of the government.

The minister has accepted a three thousand million bribery deal from an international corporation interested in building five nuclear plants.