Faro — Season 1

At dawn, off the coast of Faro, fishermen spot a sailboat and discover the body of a strangely dressed man tied to the bow mast. It's Abel Santos, a prominent and well-known lawyer in the city. Helena Ramos and Mário Justo of the Judicial Police (PJ) investigate the case. Ernesto Santos, Abel's son, receives the news with indifference, much to the surprise of the inspectors. Dr. Quintino, who runs a real estate agency planning to build a luxury real estate development on Faro Island, upon hearing of Abel's death, immediately schedules a meeting with João Seabra, a construction contractor, to decide the next steps for a drastic and effective implementation of the project. But all the obstacles to the project began with Zé Maria, an old fisherman and owner of one of Faro Island's most famous restaurants, who, as a result of his convictions, sees his restaurant destroyed.

The PJ discovers that Marta is the queen of alternative and sadomasochistic sex in the Algarve and only receives select guests, usually very wealthy or very powerful, but Abel is a regular visitor. However, Abel also appears to be involved in multiple local businesses, including a large enterprise about which little information is available. The PJ pursues a line of investigation that points to Marta as responsible for Abel's death, leaving aside the business, as it is not in the region's interest and there is no indication of any connection between sadomasochistic experiences and real estate deals.

At the police station, where he will also give his statement, Ernesto runs into Marta and, like his father, becomes fascinated by her sexuality. Ana Cristina, who had accompanied Ernesto for moral support, becomes jealous but takes refuge in the restaurant and the social gatherings.

At Abel's funeral, Marta's presence deeply disturbs Ana Cristina. But Ana Cristina's concerns quickly change... the PJ seeks out Zé Maria for questioning. His testimony raises suspicions about his alibi, but also opens another line of investigation: Abel was part of a real estate project on the Island. The inspectors' opinions are divided between the money trail and the sex trail. Marta provokes Ernesto, and Ana Cristina becomes jealous, while Deolinda warns Ernesto that she is dangerous. The project for the Island is blocked by Zé Maria's intransigence, while João Seabra tries to convince Ana Cristina, but, as a staunch environmentalist, he is unsuccessful and is forced to take a different path.

The real estate developers are blackmailed by someone who has Abel's recordings containing evidence of corruption. Desperate, Dr. Quintino and Seabra decide to speed up the entire real estate project process. Ana Cristina, influenced by Malika, decides to stay in Faro and fight for her father and Ernesto. Meanwhile, the ASAE (National Health and Social Security Agency) closes the restaurant, putting pressure on Zé Maria, who resists selling it. Dr. Quintino threatens Ernesto and asks him to return the evidence of corruption Abel allegedly possessed. Ernesto discovers from Zé Maria the scheme involving sales to offshore companies. Marta, for unclear reasons, continues to harass Ernesto and takes the opportunity to ask questions about her father. Mário and Helena follow the money trail and attempt to interrogate Seabra, who Helena witnesses threatening Inácio to sell the house.

Ernesto joins forces with Zé Maria to resist pressure from buyers and tries to help him reopen the restaurant. At the same time, he takes a homeless man, a former war photographer, who was sheltering at the office entrance to the refuge. Ana Cristina takes him in and gives him a camera, with which he begins to photograph the refugees and give them a human face. The PJ investigates the business behind the real estate interests, despite receiving pressure to stop. Mário and Helena decide to dig deeper and question Ventura's son in prison and then Inácio, who ends up selling the house and leaving the island. One morning, Deolinda finds the office destroyed. Seabra and his men set fire to the restaurant, but are photographed by the homeless man.

Zé Maria and Ana Cristina watch the fire helplessly. Ernesto arrives to support Ana Cristina and reconciles with her. The PJ investigates the fire, while the beggar unsuccessfully tries to show compromising photographs. Helena investigates Marta Reis and the real estate developers. João Seabra tries to bribe the new head of the Environment Department, but is called to the PJ for questioning. Meanwhile, Ana Cristina is concerned about Isaak and Malika's legal status with the SEF (National Social Security Administration). Ernesto decides to help them with the money his father left them to pay their salaries and offers them his house to stay. Zé Maria insists on staying on the island, but Ana Cristina convinces him to accept the offer. Marta prepares to flee to Brazil after checking an account in the Bahamas, abandoning Leila. Frustrated, Mário wants to drop the investigation, but an anonymous tip leads to Marta's arrest at the airport.

Marta is released, but the PJ keeps her passport, as she is now a key witness. Zé Maria isn't as lucky; the evidence is strong against him. João Seabra and some henchmen go to the island to destroy the restaurant's reconstruction work, but are prevented by Isaak and other immigrants. Ernesto, to save Zé Maria, decides to turn himself in to the PJ, admitting to his father's murder, which allows Zé Maria to be released. Marta uses her influence and gets her passport back, after the intervention of a judge linked to sadomasochistic practices.