Madre Paula

Portugal, 1720. Paula, a humble young woman, is taken by her father to the convent of Odivelas. Adding to her not wanting to be a nun, the other nuns treat her poorly for being poor. In court, João V is confronted with terrible news involving the Emperor Carlos VI (or so he thinks). Among the nobles is Francisco, the King's younger brother who wants the throne. Paula discovers that some nuns sleep with rich and powerful men. Someday, she and João V cross over and he becomes fascinated with her. It is the beginning of a forbidden love.

In the convent, the King tries to see Paula again but she is involved with Count Vimioso. João V ends up sleeping with Madalena Máxima, the mistress of the moment. The Queen confesses herself sad by the lack of passion of João V by her. Francisco know his true love: Mariana, a nun. However, this don’t stop him from committing a serious mistake. Finally, João V sees Paula but she refuses to be one of his mistresses. Meanwhile, someone is listening to their conversation

Madalena Máxima humiliates Paula publicly in the convent. Paula promises revenge. The Queen believes Madalena Máxima is pregnant with the King’s child and summons her. Francisco and his noble friends defend the going to war with Emperor Carlos VI and later decide to forge new evidence. However, the King receives a visit that promises to shed some light on this case. Paula, advised by the Abbess, starts professing, becoming a true nun. After the ceremony, she and the King meets again.

João V and Paula are now lovers and she’s the King's favorite, but she is also clever at giving him political advice. Francisco asks his mistress, Mariana, to commission her sister Bárbara, also a nun in Odivelas, to get information about Paula. Montalvão offers a land in Mafra to the crown, next to the convent which left the nobles fearing treachery. The son of the King and Madalena Máxima is born. The Queen is informed. João V visits the child, but ends the relationship with the nun. And Paula… makes a decision about that child.

For the first time, worlds collide. Paula goes to court to watch an opera show and João V is keen of telling Maria Ana that this is his new lover. At the court Manuel, younger brother of João V and Francisco, arrives. With him, comes the Spanish lady Carmen Villalobos. But something goes terribly wrong. After that, Francisco sees an opportunity to finally dethrone his brother. Will it succeed? Paula discovers that the friendship with Bárbara isn’t as pure as it should be and decides to retaliate. Bárbara vows revenge.

Bárbara goes to the witch Isabel da Moita and asks her help to dominate Paula. Abílio, lover of the witch, learns about Isabel's plan, goes to the King and sells the information he has. After that, João V makes a decision that left Francisco even angrier with the King. The Queen learns about the sin of Martinho de Barros and will use this information to try stop the love affair between her husband and Paula.