The repertoire of the Bonecos de Santo Aleixo, traditional puppets from the Alentejo Region, is mostly known for its autos based on the Old and New Testaments, but it also included comic scenes, mostly dealing with secular themes, which were played in the second half of the program, after the religious play. Only men could attend these plays; women and children were sent back home after the first half.

Catarina, a matchmaker, tells Zeferino, a barber, that the young Filomena would like to marry him. Zeferino is delighted and rewards the matchmaker with one hundred escudos to buy snuff. Filomena, singing, comes in to deliver bread. Zeferino confesses his love for her and promises to marry her and to never beat her. They both sing and dance. Zeferino wants to take advantage of Filomena’s charms and announces that she will have to work after her wedding, contrary to her hopes. He takes a stick and beats her. She runs away, and Zeferino tells the audience that other young women could suffer the same fate.