Leonardo Gómez is a slender, handsome young medical student who catches Maurizia Rugieri’s eye. Since he’s reading from the libretto of Tosca when they meet, Maurizia associates him with her romantic, opera-driven fantasies, and the two of them quickly begin an affair. Maurizia chooses to leave behind her husband Ezio Longo and their son to follow Leonardo to his post as a doctor in a remote oil field. The two enjoy a fairly happy married life together, but Leonardo’s health is poor, and it seems like he isn’t committed to his relationship with Maurizia with the same fiery passion that she is. Leonardo is not quite the romantic hero she thought he was. After the couple moves to Agua Santa, Leonardo’s health eventually catches up with him, and he dies.