Princesses

Caye frequents Gloria's Hair Salon where she and other regulars discuss life and politics. They share a dislike of immigrant prostitutes, hinting at the income tensions in their circle. The salon scene establishes her social world at the start.

Caye meets Zulema, an illegal immigrant prostitute, and the two women form a growing friendship. They begin supporting each other with shopping, fashion tips, and hair-styling ideas. The unlikely bond shifts Caye's perspective on her own life.

Caye invites Zulema to meet her family at her mother's house for dinner, and the visit deepens their connection. The dinner broadens Zulema's world beyond the salon and introduces new emotional stakes. Family dynamics hint at cultural tensions and care.

Caye's phone rings incessantly, but she refuses to answer. Her mother grows confused and bothered by the constant interruptions. The behavior signals that Caye is hiding something important from her family.

Zulema volunteers to teach sex education at Caye's sister-in-law's school, enabling her to send a toy truck to her son. The act shows her determination to care for her child and to build a safer future. It contrasts with the dangerous life she leads as a sex worker.

Outside a club, Caye meets Manuel, a computer programmer, and persuades him to go with her. Over beers at a café, she confesses she is a prostitute; Manuel laughs it off at first and the couple begins a relationship. The relationship exposes the double life Caye leads and its personal costs.

Zulema tells Caye about a man who promises papers to legalize her status, then uses her instead. Caye grows suspicious and begs Zulema not to go with him. This warning foreshadows the danger ahead.

The man lures Zulema to a hotel room where she is beaten and presumably raped after a prior escape with Caye's help. The brutality highlights the risks sex workers face. A later rendezvous with the abuser leads to further violence.

After a consensual encounter with a compassionate volunteer, Zulema goes to the hospital for a full medical examination. The test results imply a fatal and potentially contagious condition, intensifying the urgency of her situation. She resolves to confront her abuser again as part of a revenge arc.

In the wake of the hospital news, Zulema arranges to meet her abuser and has unprotected sex with him as an act of revenge. The scene underscores the self-destructive cycle surrounding violence and exploitation. The emotional stakes are raised for both Zulema and Caye.

At a cafe, Caye encounters Manuel and his coworkers who had arranged for her services, revealing Manuel's infidelity. Manuel confirms she was truthful about her profession without words, and they part ways. The betrayal shatters the relationship and reinforces the precariousness of her life.

Devastated by her health, Zulema decides to return to the Dominican Republic. Caye gives her a makeover and an envelope of cash, telling her to 'go be happy.' The farewell is bittersweet and marks a turning point for both women.

That afternoon, during dinner with her family, Caye announces that Zulema has returned to the Dominican Republic because she could no longer bear the emotional burden. The news closes Zulema's arc while underscoring the personal costs of their friendship. The moment also shows Caye's continuing ties to her family.

The film ends with Caye's cellphone ringing as her mother asks if she will answer. Caye refuses with the line 'You answer it, mom!' signaling a defiant, unresolved life. The closing image emphasizes the ongoing demands of work and family.