When his father is murdered by a corrupt political regime, Abel (Anthony Perkins) flees Caracas and for the Venezuelan forests, searching for hidden gold to fund his revenge. In the jungle, he finds Rima (Audrey Hepburn), a “bird girl” who has reverted to a natural and innocent state. Rima was raised by an evil grandfather who still tries to exercise dominion over her. It is up to Abel to try and save the girl from her grandfather, and also to protect her from superstitious natives.