Go Back to China

On her birthday in Los Angeles, Sasha learns her estranged father has cut off access to her $1 million trust fund, threatening the lifestyle she’s relied on. Without the funds, she is pressured to accept a role in the family business in China. The move also accompanies the end of alimony to her mother, further tightening the squeeze that pushes her toward an agreement.

With the financial squeeze in effect, Sasha capitulates and agrees to relocate to Shenzhen to join her father's toy factory. The pressure from both the fund cut and the alimony cut makes the Chinese assignment feel like a necessity rather than a choice. She begins the transition from her LA life toward the demanding family enterprise.

Upon arrival in Shenzhen, Sasha reconnects with her older half-sister Carol and her younger siblings, all children from her father’s various affairs. She also discovers Lulu, the latest girlfriend who is closer to her own age. The family dynamic begins to unfold in the factory environment.

Sasha joins Carol at the toy factory and attends a major sales pitch where buyers slam the current lines as dated. She argues for fresh ideas and begins to push her own designs into the product development process. The confrontation marks her first real influence in the business.

To shake up the product line, Sasha leads her father’s designers to Hong Kong to study competing toys and market trends. The excursion broadens her perspective and gives her tangible ideas to bring back home. The experience marks a turning point in her approach to design and marketing.

Sasha secures approval from her father to design a distinctive Christmas toy collection, signaling her growing influence. She begins shaping the line with a more modern, fashion-forward aesthetic. The project becomes the centerpiece of her early success in the company.

During a celebratory outing, Carol reveals the truth: their father had not been faithfully married to Sasha’s mother and had numerous affairs. This revelation reframes Sasha’s view of the family and adds a moral dimension to her struggle for independence. The dynamic shifts as secrets come to light.

The Christmas line moves into production and Sasha discovers a modification—swapping a plain scarf for sequined fabric—that creates a choking hazard. She has already ordered vast quantities, forcing her to confront the consequences of design decisions. The product’s safety risk casts a shadow over the project.

After her father screams at her over the recall risk, Sasha abruptly quits the company. The decision marks a breaking point in her willingness to tolerate her father’s domineering control. Carol quietly pleads for her to stay, highlighting the personal rift between the sisters.

Carol urges Sasha to reconsider and stay, but Sasha refuses and tells Carol to stop seeking their father’s approval. The moment cements Sasha’s resolve to pursue independence rather than a return to the old power structure. The siblings take divergent paths from here.

Back in Los Angeles, Sasha is despondent but friends push her to try a new approach: give a recalled toy to a child social influencer to spark buzz. The influencer posts about the product, and the resulting popularity tempts the distributor to rethink the recall. The idea leverages Sasha’s marketing instincts to revive the line.

The viral buzz convinces the distributor to withdraw the recall and re-issue the toy without the dangerous scarf. Impressed by Sasha’s design and marketing savvy, they hire her to work for them, launching a new phase in her career. Her work demonstrates power beyond her father’s control.

Sasha is visited by Carol, who has finally decided to quit the family business and live life on her own terms. The sisterly bond endures even as they pursue different paths, marking a hopeful turn toward independence. Carol’s departure underscores Sasha’s own evolving identity.

During a business trip back to China, Sasha visits her father and proposes using the remainder of her trust fund to provide childcare for factory workers, aiming to boost morale. She also offers to continue designing toys for him on a freelance basis, which he accepts. The proposal blends social responsibility with professional collaboration.

The father agrees to a freelance arrangement with Sasha, allowing her to influence toy design and production without direct control. This setup preserves her independence while keeping a connection to the family business. Sasha steps into a flexible, empowered role that shapes future projects.