Emily Benetto, portrayed by Aubrey Plaza, is entrenched in the bustling yet challenging landscape of Los Angeles, where she grapples with a staggering $70,000 in student debt. Compounding her struggle is a felony conviction for aggravated assault, which prevents her from securing the stable, well-paying job she desperately needs. To make ends meet, she works as a food delivery contractor for a catering company.
Amidst her financial turmoil, Emily finds solace in her best friend Liz, played by Megalyn Echikunwoke, who leads a glamorous life in print advertising, filled with exotic photo shoots funded by the agency. Liz extends a lifeline to Emily by promising to secure her an assistant position in her agency, reassuring her that she’ll ensure her boss overlooks Emily’s past criminal history during the hiring process.
However, Emily's desperation leads her down a darker path when a co-worker named Javier, portrayed by Bernardo Badillo, introduces her to a dubious "dummy shopper" service. This service makes an enticing promise of $200 for just one hour of work, but soon reveals itself as part of a credit card fraud ring. Enter Theo Rossi as Youcef, one of the ringleaders who directs Emily to use a counterfeit credit card and fake ID to score a flat-screen TV. The stakes rise as the gang employs a shaky system where buyers are left uncertain if their cards will work, often leading to risky situations.
The following day, Emily finds herself pressured into purchasing a car under the guise of a simple transaction. With the dealer's suspicion looming over her, she has a mere eight minutes to escape after the card is processed. In an unfortunate twist, the dealer uncovers the scam and a brutal confrontation ensues, leaving Emily injured but with the car. As Youcef treats her wounds, they bond over shared dreams: Emily yearns to explore South America, while Youcef contemplates investing in rental properties. Driven by ambition, Emily requests a deeper involvement in the operation, leading Youcef to mentor her on crafting fake credit cards.
Amidst escalating tensions in the fraud ring, particularly with Youcef's cousin and partner, Khalil (played by Jonathan Avigdori), Emily's illegal endeavors continue, pushing her limits as she faces dangerous scenarios, including a robbery while dog-sitting for Liz. A turning point comes when Emily aggressively defends her earnings, showcasing her resourcefulness and determination to prevail.
As their relationship develops romantically, Youcef invites Emily into his family sphere, further complicating their connection amidst the fraudulent activities. When an opportunity arises for Emily at Liz's agency, she is crushed to learn it's only an unpaid internship, leading to a confrontation with the dismissive boss, portrayed by Gina Gershon.
During a dinner with Youcef's family, tensions flare as Khalil reveals Emily's recent scams, leading to Youcef being ostracized from the fraud ring and a rift between the cousins. As Youcef seeks to reclaim his financial stability to aid his mother, he devises a plan to rob the very scam operation he was entwined with, but not before Emily's past actions become a catalyst for betrayal.
As events spiral out of control, a climactic confrontation with Khalil leaves Youcef gravely injured. In a critical moment, Emily reveals her true survival instincts, stabbing Khalil in self-defense and uncovering hidden cash within the fridge. However, as sirens echo in the distance, the urgency to escape becomes paramount, forcing Emily into a fateful decision to flee, leaving Youcef behind.
Ultimately, the story concludes with Emily vanishing into the shadows, living now in South America, where she returns to her artistic roots while simultaneously setting up her own credit card fraud ring, recruiting desperate souls with the same tantalizing promise she once chased. In this whirlwind of choices and consequences, Emily's transformation from a debt-ridden artist to a cunning operator illustrates a gripping tale of survival, ambition, and moral ambiguity.
