Ivan's mother takes a job as a servant for the Lomeli Curiel family. One of the Curiels' daughters seduces Ivan and becomes pregnant, and the daughter's mother sends men out to beat him. During the brawl, one of the men is killed and Ivan is wrongfully accused of the crime. Having nothing to lose, Ivan crosses the border illegally into the U.S. where he meets an older businessman who adopts him and pays for his education. After eleven years, he returns...

Raquel has worked as a housemaid for an upper-class Santiago, Chile, family for 23 years. On Raquel's 41st birthday, Pilar Valdez and family force the sullen, withdrawn maid to emerge from her kitchen sanctum and join the family for a celebration, but her discomfort is as strong as the family's need to acknowledge their awkward dependence on her. Raquel becomes unable to care for the house alone and new help is hired, which throws her into a jealous...