Princesse, a 16-year-old girl living in Ville Rose, leaves school just as a noisy cockfight begins. In the yard, an old drunk man smoking a pipe tries to hex his wife. As Princesse walks closer, she studies his face and wonders why he’s living in Ville Rose. As she passes, the man grabs at the hem of her dress, and asks if she’d like to place a wager. Princesse says no, and walks away as the cockfight ends.

Princesse is on her way to see Catherine, a painter from the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe whom she was introduced to as a reward for earning good grades. Catherine, who is 27 years old, but looks older, greets Princesse warmly, and encourages her to make herself comfortable. Princesse fully undresses and poses on a white sheet that Catherine has laid out on the veranda. She is anxious not to be seen by anyone but Catherine. Meanwhile, Catherine thinks about one day convincing Princesse to run and pose fully nude on the beach. She reassures Princesse that her name will never be attached to the painting, and that no one in her village will ever see it. Catherine says that one day Princesse’s grandchildren will see the painting in a museum in Paris.