The shepherd boy Besame is lucky, with the help of the old maestro he becomes a student at the conservatory and begins to learn to play the flute. But the governor and other envious people lock Besame in a correctional cell to learn the ruthless rules of life. Here he is tortured, deprived of music, accustomed to money, and turned into a strong animal. Besame's metamorphosis frightens even the bullies, but the maestro saves the young man again - the sound of the flute washes away all the filth from Besame, returning love and freedom.