Four narratives weave their way from the tragic slums of Bogota to the insidious suburbia of Hollywood in "Broken Kingdom," the first feature-length film from the Holy Monster team. A 12-year-old prostitute girl and an ill-fated, eccentric American writer forge a strange companionship. A Colombian university student invites a terrible danger into her world in the name of financial solace, while a day-care teacher in Los Angeles does everything she can to fight the weight of a tragic secret.

JASON and SERAFINA
Jason Hollister harbors an unspeakable devastation. For over a year the eccentric American writer has been hiding out in the dark recesses of Bogota, Colombia ~ creatively paralyzed and cloaked in solitude. When Jason rescues a teenage prostitute from a violent attack, a strange relationship blossoms out of a mutual need. Because the girl's presence ignites his desire to write, Jason invites his newfound 'muse' to continue their relationship ~ 'hiring' her to be his companion only. With her departure from the formidable slums and the nightmare of her bitter uncle, Serafina is seduced with a poisonous delusion ~ the opportunity of a different life. A deep yearning is unlocked in the girl as Jason inevitably comes to represent hope and change. Their initial harmony is short-lived however, as Jason is catapulted deeper and deeper into his creative immersion. Serafina tries all measure of distraction to counter this, only to be met with defiance and anger. Her attempts to usurp his attentions assume different forms; from humor to rage to sexual advance. The emotional landscape of their unusual friendship soars and then plummets as they walk inexorably toward the conclusion of their union.

VALENTINA
A flirtation with an unpredictable venture leads this 23-year-old university student into waters dark and deep. Burdened by her mother's alcoholism and financial recklessness, Valentina explores bleak measures for financial restoration. During a casual conversation at school, one of her friends flaunts the fact that she has recently negotiated bouts of 'Prepagos' ~ casual prostitution. The desperate Valentina weighs this option. During a night-shift at the bar she works, Jason enters and befriends her. Valentina wastes no time in propositioning her first potential client. Though Jason rejects her initial advances, he eventually succumbs. This encounter is sabotaged however, when Jason sees an attack on Serafina from the taxi where he and Valentina are sexually engaged. Valentina tries to dissuade Jason from the rescue and is met with violent rejection. Valentina does not return to our story until the third act where she and her friend are accompanied by new 'clientele' in the form of 2 obnoxious foreign businessmen ~ ruthlessly intent on some action with the girls. When the situation descends into treacherous territory, Valentina tries to flee the men from the confines of the hotel room where she and her friend are sexual hostages. During an escape attempt through a bathroom window she spies Serafina in the otherwise empty street below. A little beacon of hope...

MARILYN
A 28-year-old teacher at a Los Angeles day-care, the enigmatic figure of Marilyn casts a mysterious shadow ~ later to unveil a staggering secret. Her story begins when she accosts the white father (Chris) of an African-American boy (Julian) one day after school; having only met the child's mother before this. Though the situation is swiftly resolved, it takes an unusual turn. The following day, Chris invites Marilyn on a date. She accepts. Soon we learn that Marilyn is unusually wealthy; a 'legacy' recently bequeathed to her. She is swift to let Chris know that her husband has 'passed' ~ which we later discover to be a sad lie. However, such is the chemistry between the two, that they agree to resume their romance when Chris returns from a 2-week business trip. During his absence we are introduced to a vaguely obsessive desire to be near Julian at the school. When Chris returns, it appears to be something of a Godsend. The company of Julian presents something painful to Marilyn however, and her peculiar fascination with the boy is enough to disturb Chris during a evening that they all spend together at Marilyn's home. The obsession crescendoes when, in the middle of the night, Chris awakes and discovers his son ~ in another room ~ is asleep and wrapped in the maternal embrace of this strange woman. It is a violation he will not tolerate. He resolves to leave. Marilyn's response is bizarre display of tragedy and torment. Only when Clayton pays a visit to her at the day-care towards the end of the film do we begin to understand what she has endured. She allows us a glimpse into the cataclysm that has befallen her. Jason and she are entwined in a tragedy and both are in danger of yielding to their terrible fate.