Just Like a Woman

Marilyn is fired from her job due to the recession, hitting her hard both financially and professionally. At home, she discovers Harvey with another woman in their bed, exposing a level of betrayal that shakes her sense of security.

Acting on her dance coach's advice, she travels to Santa Fe to audition for a dance company, leaving Chicago without telling Harvey. This abrupt departure marks a decisive break from her old life.

Mourad's mother reveals that she has found him a new wife who will bear a child within a year, adding pressure to Mona's already strained life. The revelation underscores the cultural expectations shaping Mona's future.

Distracted by the news, Mona spills her mother-in-law's pillbox and gives the wrong dosage. That next morning, Mourad discovers his mother dead, a tragedy that compels Mona to flee.

The police begin to question Mourad about Mona's whereabouts as she remains on the run. The investigation heightens the sense of danger surrounding Mona's future.

During the drive toward Santa Fe, Marilyn ignores Harvey's calls and encounters Mona at a roadside rest stop. She invites Mona to come along, and Mona agrees to be Marilyn's dance partner for the gigs ahead.

The women grow closer as they share a longing for freedom and a new start. At their first gig together, Marilyn defends Mona from the advances of a night-club owner, defending their dignity and budding partnership.

Backstage at the gig, Marilyn finds a newspaper photo of Mona in a missing-person ad. Mona insists her mother-in-law's death was accidental, while Marilyn accuses her of complicity and hides her own fears about the truth.

Overwhelmed by the escalation, Marilyn leaves Mona on a Native American reservation with the money she earned. She then receives a call from Harvey, who has reported her missing.

Marilyn, shaken by the call, returns to the reservation to apologize to Mona. The two reconcile and resolve to try the audition in the next two days.

At a campsite, Mona faces racist harassment, and Marilyn defends her. The assailants, including a husband and son, assault Mona, breaking her arm and dashing her hopes of performing.

Mona performs at the Santa Fe auditions under Marilyn's name and is approved by the judges. Marilyn catches up to Mona at the train station, tears up the certificate of acceptance, and decides to return to Chicago to support Mona; they share a hopeful dance on the platform, facing the uncertain future together.