Juan Ruiz first proposes to Ana when she is 11 years old. He and three brothers drive to her town from the capital and woo girls. Ana’s mother is worried about Ana’s peculiar beauty; her green eyes attract a lot of attention, and a bad marriage could ruin her daughter. The dictator Trujillo has recently been assassinated, throwing Ana’s community into both crisis and hope for the future. People are on edge, but Juan continues his wooing. Juan and his brothers are known for working in America, where they make money that they bring back to their family in the Dominican Republic.

Ana’s older sister Teresa is 13 years old and in love with a man referred to as “La Guardia.” Mamá doesn’t approve, so Teresa sneaks out of the house to meet with him. When Ana encourages her to go about her courtship in the proper way, Teresa tells her she’ll understand only when she, too, is in love.

Juan moves to New York City to make money for his family back home. He rents a cheap room from a man named Frank, who rents rooms to several men at the same time. Frank encourages Juan to go downtown to look for work at the hotels.