Scarlett, portrayed by Tatum O'Neal, is a resilient young woman who has learned to survive on the streets through illicit activities. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she finds herself facing murder charges after the death of a client. In a twist of fate, she crosses paths with Tracy Freeman, played by Irene Cara, the daughter of a well-off doctor, who is also in court for drug possession and resisting arrest. Their shared predicament creates a tense atmosphere, punctuated by Tracy’s revelation of having faced racial slurs from the officer who arrested her.
The courtroom, filled with other defendants, descends into mayhem when one inmate rebels against the judge. Amid the chaos, a shoot-out erupts, allowing Scarlett and Tracy to escape while the confusion reigns. Completely unaware, the police pursue them, mistakenly believing they participated in the violence.
As they flee underground into the sewage system, the weight of their choices bears down on them. Tracy pleads with Scarlett to reconsider their escape, but Scarlett is determined, believing they will be held accountable for the shooting. Her coercive nature compels Tracy to continue on this dangerous path. Meanwhile, Tracy’s father, Moses Gunn, desperately seeks help from Lt. Speier, portrayed by George Murdock, only to receive the grim news that seven individuals lost their lives in the chaos.
Navigating the perilous sewer tunnels, the girls encounter a lone officer who inadvertently causes an explosion that kills himself. In the catastrophic aftermath, while Tracy advocates for surrender, Scarlett insists on remaining free, fearing that submission would brand them as threats to law enforcement. In a moment of vulnerability, she reveals her illiteracy, heightening her sense of desperation.
Emerging from the depths, they signal a cab and head into the city’s decrepit areas. As Scarlett attempts to abandon Tracy, the latter refuses to be left behind, caught in a web of confusion and unwilling to reach out to her father. A fierce argument ensues, ignited by Scarlett’s racially charged insults, leading to Tracy retaliating physically. In a stunning twist, Tracy demands Scarlett’s help to clean up and start afresh.
As they reach the elusive Sniffer, played by Nicholas Campbell, a questionable figure in the underground world of pornography and drugs, it becomes clear that Tracy is wading into dangerous waters. Surrounded by tension, Sniffer reluctantly allows Tracy to freshen up in his apartment, and the dynamic between him and Scarlett becomes increasingly hostile, revealing that he was the one who set Tracy up with the man she is accused of killing. Scarlett attempts to convince Sniffer to abandon his criminal ways and escape with her, but his growing irritation culminates in a violent confrontation where he brandishes a knife, ultimately throwing her out.
Without losing hope, Scarlett seeks aid from Rodney Gage, but he becomes vicious, inflicting a cut on her face that symbolizes the brutality of her circumstances. Meanwhile, an unsettling arrangement unfolds as Lt. Speier proposes a sordid deal with Rodney: aiding in the capture of Scarlett and Tracy in exchange for the release of numerous criminals.
Rodney sends his henchmen to Sniffer's whereabouts, creating a tense and chaotic scenario. When Scarlett returns, she finds an irate Tracy who has found a concealed weapon in the apartment. Desperate to shift the focus from her injuries, Scarlett lays blame onto Sniffer and steals his stash of drugs. As Rodney’s goons close in, the girls make a hasty exit, followed by Rodney, the police, and Sniffer in a turbulent chase.
Finding limited refuge in an abandoned warehouse, Scarlett attempts to sell the stolen drugs while Tracy succumbs to fatigue. However, their short-lived safety is shattered when Sniffer discovers their hiding place and injects Tracy with a powerful narcotic. As flames threaten to consume the warehouse, Scarlett confronts Sniffer in a life-or-death struggle, ultimately leading to his demise in the inferno.
With the fire raging behind them, Scarlett rescues a lifeless Tracy and brings her to a junkyard for transient shelter. In her quest for food, Scarlett uncovers a newspaper detailing their supposed deaths, serving as a grim reminder of their dire situation. Faced with this harsh reality, Scarlett must chart their next steps.
Euphoric for a moment, Tracy proposes an escape to the mountains for new jobs as waitresses. Scarlett, initially hesitant, finds herself at odds with Tracy, leading to an emotional breakup. Their once unbreakable bond now lies in tatters, replaced with feelings of disappointment and yearning.
As fate would have it, the authorities, having lurked in the shadows waiting for such a moment, close in on them, accompanied by Tracy's father—a haunting reminder of the dangers they face. In a frantic attempt to flee, Scarlett is caught in a hail of gunfire yet is fortunate enough to avoid severe injuries.
Ultimately, amid the chaos, Scarlett and Tracy reaffirm their loyalty to each other, vowing to stick together against all odds: “Even if it kills us,” they declare, their collective resolve a testament to the resilience born from adversity.
