The story follows Fak, a former novice monk who defrocks to care for his aging father. After his father’s death, Fak shares his hut with his father’s widow, a slightly deranged woman. As Fak resists her advances and defends her from the local community’s hostility, he becomes a target of their judgment. Unable to change their perceptions, Fak seeks refuge in alcohol, which offers him temporary escape from his troubles.