In a gripping tale, Peg Dahl (Zoey Deutch) rises above her tough beginnings in Buffalo, New York, where she is born into a struggling blue-collar family. Inspired by her late father's legacy of resourcefulness and an entrepreneurial spirit, she aspires to transform her circumstances by pursuing opportunities that will elevate her from impoverishment. Throughout her youth, Peg dedicates herself to the study of economics, formulating schemes to supplement her income, all in an effort to gain admission to an Ivy League school and ultimately forge a successful career on Wall Street.
However, circumstances take an unexpected turn. When her financial situation renders college tuition unattainable, Peg resorts to illegal activities to make money. As a result, her counterfeiting operation is eventually uncovered, leading to a forty-month prison sentence. Upon her release, she starts anew by scrubbing toilets at her brother J.J.'s (character name not provided) bar. Driven by determination, Peg soon utilizes her skills to eliminate her legal debts by working at a local debt collection agency.
During her foray into the harrowing world of debt recovery, Peg encounters Graham (Jermaine Fowler), an investigator from the District Attorney's office. Tasked with dismantling the city's corrupt debt collectors, the two develop a rapport based on their mutual disdain for the system's corruption. A shared moment during a bar fight leads them back to Peg's place, where she confides her aspirations of leaving her current job behind to chase a fresh start.
The next day, Peg boldly announces her plans to establish a legitimate debt collection business, inspired by insights gleaned from Graham. Determined, she assembles a diverse team of fellow hustlers. Her recruits include phone sex operators, Asian business owners, and a former parolee, all united by the simple yet compelling mission: to liberate people from the crushing burden of debt.
As Peg's new business begins to thrive, she faces relentless sabotage and sinister threats from her former employer, Wizz (Jai Courtney). Wizz becomes increasingly antagonistic, undermining her efforts at every turn. In a daring move, Peg reinvests her employees' commissions back into the company, further inciting Wizz's wrath.
Tensions mount as Wizz targets Peg's personal life, culminating in him seizing her brother J.J.'s bar. An ill-timed dinner invitation escalates into a confrontation, resulting in J.J. storming out in anger. Nevertheless, he ultimately confronts Wizz, leading to repercussions that include Wizz roughing him up and having Peg's mother arrested for operating a hair salon without proper permits.
Fueled by anger, Peg confronts Wizz at his establishment, firing shots into the air to draw him out. This volatile standoff is abruptly interrupted by law enforcement, leading to Peg's arrest for discharging a firearm. During a tense interrogation with her mother, Peg faces a harsh reality check regarding her repeated reliance on get-rich-quick schemes over earnest means of financial stability. This pivotal moment pushes Peg to reassess her priorities and seek a more cooperative path to success.
As part of a plea deal in court, Peg agrees to collaborate with authorities to dismantle the nefarious debt collection agencies operating within the city. Her efforts culminate in a successful sting operation at J.J.'s bar, during which she captures damning evidence from representatives of these agencies, leading to the arrest of forty-two individuals engaged in illegal debt collection.
The impact of Peg's actions is profound, rendering over one billion dollars worth of debt invalid. The authorities seize and destroy more than 50,000 debt sheets as a consequence. Although this victory comes at a personal cost—resulting in Peg's sentencing to prison time for the destruction of evidence—she views her incarceration as an opportunity. Within those walls, she imparts her financial knowledge to her fellow inmates as part of her plea agreement.
After completing her prison sentence, Peg emerges with the unwavering support of her loved ones, who provide her with the initial funds she needs to embark on a new chapter. Undeterred by her past, Peg sets her sights on the lucrative realm of hedge funds, energized by a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to succeed through ethical means.
