Spain, late 19th century. Judge Javier Zarco finds in a cemetery a skull pierced by a nail and suspects that a murder has been committed.

Elena and Marcos live in a guesthouse. Their serious financial difficulties force them to resort to the help of Mrs. Jarque, an aunt of Elena who humiliates Marcos constantly. Marcos dreams that he kills Mrs. Jarque, and she appears dead.

An American police detective's investigation into a series of murders leads him to drug smugglers in North Africa.

A woman betrayed by a man falls into despair and kills him. What fate will the jury decide for her?