Lucía's brother, Felipe, is a guerilla fighter in the Cuban war of independence hiding out at a coffee plantation.
Wishing to run away from the city, Lucía suggests the coffee plantation her brother is hidden at, and reveals its location to Rafael.
Finding Rafael with a group of officers in the city plaza, she stabs him to death and is comforted by the beggar woman.
She begins working to support his revolutionary activities, and writes anti-Machado slogans with a coworker in their workplace bathroom.
Aldo and his two revolutionary friends assassinate several drunken soldiers in a theater, meanwhile an anti-Machado protest Lucía and Flora take part in is violently broken up by police.
The group awakens to the news that Machado has resigned, and Aldo begins clerical work in Havana in forming a new provincial government.
Attending a party at the compound, Tomás gets into a fight with a man dancing with Lucía and proceeds to board up their home to prevent her from leaving.
After Tomás fights the literacy worker, Lucía seeks the help of Angelina, who devises a plan for her to escape.