A short distance from the city’s red-light district is Area, a neighborhood of brothelswhere over-the- hill sex workers can be had for a can of sardines or even on credit.During its heyday, Area had up to 700 brothels servicing thousands of low-income men,hormonally active boys and society misfits-- all taking advantage of the bargain price ofsex available only at Area. One of the last remaining brothels is operated by Ben, whosefamily of former pimps and subversives depends on the brothel for survival.Hillary, one of the sex workers, keeps her life-savings to fulfill a dream to travel to theUnited States to find a son she said she lost during the panic caused by the eruption ofMt. Pinatubo. Her skeptical co-workers bully her by dumping on her all the clients theyreject, including a freak and a penniless old man who pays with stolen appliances.Hillary’s world collapses when her money is stolen and Ben refuses to file charges,because the suspect is a village watchman whom Ben cannot afford to displease.The story happens during the Holy Week, when the residents of Area perform rituals ofpenitence to wash away their sins and be ready for another year of business as usual.