The story starts with the main character, Consuelo Connie Ramos, squabbling with her niece Dolly. Dolly is a prostitute. Her pimp, Geraldo, is forcing her to have an illegal abortion. During the bickering, Geraldo arrives and attacks both Connie and Dolly. The attack leads to the hospitalization of Connie. Connie is hospitalized in a mental institution. Geraldo claims that Connie is insane and has attacked him without provocation. The medics believe him because Connie has a history of violent behavior. As well, Dolly backs Geraldo’s story because she is afraid of him.
At the mental institution, Connie starts having visions of a being from the future named Luciente. Initially, Connie thought Luciente was a man, but she later discovers that she is a woman. Luciente and Connie become friends. Their friendship becomes tight, and Luciente takes Connie to Mattapoisett, where there is no inequality, discrimination, racism, and poverty. Connie also discovers that women no longer give birth. In fact, children are born out of tubes for women to achieve equality. Luciente teaches Connie physical and emotional tools of survival.
The book appears to emphasize the importance of liberating women. The author talks of a utopia society where women are no longer giving birth. Men and women have common social responsibilities. In such a society, no racism, inequality, and poverty, and every person is working towards a common good. The author is underscoring the importance of equality, where social roles are equally shared across genders. Happiness and contentment can only be attained by sharing social roles in society.
