The Devil Is a Woman

During the Carnival in early-20th-century Seville, the boulevards are jammed with revelers in grotesque costumes as Civil Guards weave through the masquerade. Antonio Galvan, recently returned from Paris to visit his parents, blends with the crowd and spots Concha Perez atop a parade float, sparking a fateful attraction.

Antonio is rewarded with a note inviting him to meet Concha in person that evening, sharpening the tension between desire and danger. He resolves to attend the meeting while keeping a wary eye on authorities pursuing him.

Antonio runs into his old friend Don Pasqual, a former Civil Guard Captain. Pasqual begins to relate, via flashbacks, how Concha ruined his life: he helped her quit her cigarette factory job and proposed, but she disappeared. Three months later she came back asking for money and professed love, yet she rejected a second proposal. Later, Pasqual found her singing in a nightclub; he bought her out of her contract so they could be together, but she left with a young bullfighter, tarnishing his reputation and forcing him to resign in disgrace.

Although Antonio promises to stay away, he goes to a nightclub with Concha to confront Pasqual and win her back, but cannot resist her charms. While they are there, Pasqual sends a letter to Concha declaring his undying love and asking to see her; she reads the letter to Antonio, fueling his anger. Pasqual then bursts into their private room, demanding that Antonio leave town.

Pasqual demonstrates his pistol marksmanship, showing off his skill before departing. The scene leaves the lovers with a sense of danger and a looming confrontation, as they seem headed toward a possible dawn duel.

At dawn, the duel is set at a secluded location to settle the feud between Antonio and Pasqual. Pasqual fires his pistol into the air, a move Antonio misses noticing until after he has fired. Pasqual is gravely wounded by Antonio's bullet.

Police arrive and arrest Antonio for illegal combat, while Pasqual is taken to the hospital with his wounds. The legal and physical consequences threaten to end Antonio's freedom and Pasqual's career.

Concha leverages her influence with Governor Paquito to secure Antonio's release; the governor grudgingly issues two passports so they can escape to Paris. The act reveals her willingness to manipulate power to protect their plans.

Before reuniting with Antonio, Concha visits Pasqual at the hospital to thank him for sparing Antonio's life. He tells her that his actions were proof of his love for her, but he refuses to forgive her, and she leaves.

Concha and Antonio travel toward the French border, passing through customs as they attempt to flee to Paris. Their escape marks a final attempt to redefine their lives apart from Seville.

At the station, Antonio eagerly boards the carriage while Concha hesitates and informs the station master that she is not boarding. She declares she has decided to rejoin Pasqual, sealing a pivotal turn in their fates.

Concha ultimately commits to rejoining Pasqual, ending her pursuit of Paris with Antonio. The narrative concludes with her decision to stay with Pasqual, leaving Antonio to face his uncertain future.