Pain Hustlers

In 2011, Liza Drake is a single mother balancing her life as an exotic dancer in Florida while raising her teenage daughter, Phoebe. Faced with financial instability and challenges from Phoebe's father, Liza is determined to create a better future for her family.

One evening at the strip club, Liza has a casual encounter with Pete Brenner, who introduces a potential job opportunity that promises a salary of $100,000. This moment marks a pivotal turning point in Liza's quest for financial stability.

The next day, Liza is called to Phoebe's school due to her daughter's suspension resulting from an incident involving a fire. This event heightens Liza's concern and desire to improve their living situation and her daughter's wellbeing.

Following tensions about finances, Liza is evicted and she and Phoebe move into a motel. This situation brings additional challenges, but it also pushes Liza to reconsider the job offer from Pete as a way to change their circumstances.

While at the motel, Liza tracks Pete down at Zanna, a struggling pharmaceutical startup. Unaware of the company's difficulties, she learns about their cancer pain medication and the potential financial upside if she joins the team.

Despite a hiring freeze at Zanna, Pete forges a more appealing resume for Liza, claiming she has a biochemistry degree. This bold decision leads to her instant hiring as she is tasked with a critical assignment to promote their key medication.

Liza is set the formidable challenge of convincing a prominent physician to prescribe Lonafen during a five-day trial. This task proves to be especially daunting as the physician is highly influential and has previously prescribed millions in competing medications.

Liza’s focus shifts when Phoebe suffers a serious seizure and is diagnosed with CAVM. This personal crisis fuels Liza's desperation to succeed at Zanna, as the well-being of her daughter hangs in the balance.

In an unexpected twist, Liza returns to Dr. Lydell’s office to retrieve a Tupperware. During her visit, she overhears crucial patient conversations that provide her with persuasive arguments for prescribing Lonafen.

Liza convinces Pete to finance a speaker program to promote Lonafen, hoping to cement its place in the market. Despite an initially poor response and a series of setbacks, she recalibrates the program's focus to attract more doctors.

As Liza's efforts begin to bear fruit, Zanna experiences a remarkable 400% increase in stock value after their IPO. However, the rapid success comes with pressure from higher-ups to push boundaries, raising ethical concerns for Liza.

Liza becomes increasingly conflicted as she witnesses the unethical practices at Zanna. The struggles of trying to balance her career with Phoebe's health needs culminate in moments of critical decision-making, testing her values.

After grappling with the company's misleading practices, Liza decides to testify against Zanna, implicating key figures including CEO Eric Paley. This marks a significant turning point in Liza's journey, facing the consequences of her choices.

Liza endures a series of legal battles that culminate in her sentencing to 16 months in prison. However, after experiencing personal losses and fighting for justice, she finds herself released early from incarceration.

Post-incarceration, Liza partners with her mother and former colleagues to start a cosmetics company. This venture fulfills a long-held dream, and while she reflects on her past at Zanna, she embraces her new purpose in life.