Salva is a kid from a humble neighborhood making a living by begging for money in the subway with his inseparable friend Angel. When begging is not enough, they contemplate stealing. Seeing how well all kinds of prophets and preachers make out on television duping everyone, they decide to do the same. They make up a story about having a healing potion –"Celestial Vermouth"—but an accident lands them in jail. The host of the reality show "Hard Hand", where the audience decides if someone condemned to death will be saved (no one has yet), sees in Salva a chance to improve the ratings. He intends to have Salva, who is innocent, judged and condemned, but the audience likes Salva, frees him and turns him into a hero of the masses.