Ain rejects Antar's attempts to force her to marry him, while her sister tries to persuade her to agree to avoid his wrath, but she insists on refusing.
Ain decides to allow her child, Ezzat, to go to Quran lessons. When Antar's son dies in a battle, he expresses regret to Ain for everything he did to her.
Several years later, Ezzat succeeds at school, so his mother decides to have him enroll at law school, while Hamdoun, his friend, refuses to go to university in order to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
El Manawishi rejects Ezzat's request to marry Badriya without the approval of his mother, Ain. Ezzat is shocked to learn that Hamdoun ran away with Badriya.
Ezzat tries to seduce Sayeda, and when Ain discovers what he did, she forces him to marry her. Hamdoun is fired from his job after he quarrels with the British chancellor.
Badriya joins Hamdoun's acting troupe and becomes the leading lady. As Sayeda gives birth to a baby boy, Ain tries to convince Ezzat to take care of him and quit drinking alcohol. Haseeb rejects Dosa's demands to stop Nargess from singing at the café.
Ain takes care of Samir, while his father Ezzat neglects him. Sobhi deceives Dosa, forcing her to sell the café, and orders her to quit singing. Ezzat and Hamdoun meet after several years.
Ezzat deceives his mother, Ain, by obtaining money from her to start a trading business, while investing it in Hamdou's troupe. Badriya is shocked to learn that her father died and her mother was imprisoned by Ezzat.
As Sobhi's health condition deteriorates, Ain refuses to help him, while his second wife deceives him and takes over the café. Ezzat expels Amouna after discovering that he works as an actor, so she tells his mother, Ain.
Ezzat divorces Sayeda, and plots to have Youssef fire Hamdoun from the troupe, so the latter decides to withdraw from directing the show and only participate as an actor.
Youssef tries to convince Ezzat not to dissolve Hamdoun's troupe of actors. Sayeda's mother tries to force her daughter to remarry after Ezzat. Farag marries Souad, while Sayeda marries Abbas.
Ain agrees to help Sobhi by finding a job for him. Badriya discovers that Hamdoun has joined an opposition group called Children of Tomorrow. The police arrest Abbas.
Abdel Magid agrees to go to prison in Abbas's place. Farag retreats from forcing Souad to quit her job in the theatrical troupe. Sayeda fails to persuade Ezzat to see his son Samir.
Hamdoun divorces Badriya, accuses her of cheating on him with Youssef, and kills the latter. Badriya refuses to absolve herself of cheating in front of the police, while Irfan tries to get close to her.
Hamdoun remains in prison for killing Youssef. Ezzat decides to turn the theater into a nightclub. Ain loses her sight. Irfan marries Badriya.
After several years, Ain continues to take care of Samir, who has become a young man. Ezzat suffers a heart attack before being rescued by Farag. Young Hamdoun, Badriya and Irfan's son, dies.
Samir rejects Burhan's attempts to keep him away from Sahar because of her activism against the occupation. Sayeda finds political leaflets in Samir's room. Irfan dies.
Samir is arrested after joining the Children of Tomorrow group. Hamdoun is released from prison. Ezzat returns to his mother, Ain, one last time.