On the day that Eugenia Grandet turns 21, her miserly father gives her a valuable gold coin, like every year. Carlos, Eugenia's cousin, arrives at the celebration with a letter. Thanks to the letter, the old Grandet finds out that his brother, Carlos's father, is bankrupt and is going to commit suicide, begging him to take care of his son, who does not know the content of the letter. Eugenia tries to comfort Carlos when he finds out about the death of his father, and they both fall in love. Grandet opposes the wedding of them because he believes that Carlos covets his daughter's money.