The Last Days

Alice Kinnon and Charlotte Pingress have just graduated from New Hampshire College. The early 1980s bring them to New York City, where they begin their journey into the working world.

The two friends secure low-paying jobs as readers at a local publishing house. This setting introduces them to the tough realities of the literary world as they strive to carve out their careers.

After work, Alice and Charlotte sneak into an exclusive disco nightclub. This night is meant for Alice to connect with Jimmy Steinway, but instead leads to unforeseen drama and conflict.

Inside the club, tensions flare when Jimmy is barred from bringing clients in, leading to a public confrontation with his friend Des, the club manager. This event sets off a series of emotional entanglements.

With Jimmy out of the picture, Alice is encouraged by Charlotte to spend the night with Tom Platt. Their one-night stand complicates Alice's emotions and future relationships.

The next day, Alice and Charlotte discuss ways to accelerate their careers. They decide to share an apartment with their friend Holly, ultimately choosing a railroad apartment together.

Alice learns of Charlotte's feelings for Jimmy, creating tension between the two friends. Meanwhile, Tom's confession about his long-term girlfriend adds further complication to Alice's feelings.

Alice boldly pushes for the publication of a book on Buddhism, even after Charlotte dismisses it. Claiming it as one of her favorites, she earns respect from her colleagues despite the author's questionable credibility.

During a night at the club, Charlotte wrongly believes that revealing Alice's medical condition will enhance her appeal. This backfires and leads to unexpected romantic interest from Des towards Alice.

Alice bravely confronts Tom, seeking the truth about her illness. Tom eventually admits to giving her herpes, stirring up feelings of betrayal and loss between them.

Josh Neff, a district attorney and friend of Jimmy, shows interest in Alice during a lunch meeting. Their connection grows as they share personal struggles, particularly Josh's battle with manic depression.

Tragedy strikes when Charlotte suffers a miscarriage, throwing her into deep emotional turmoil. The situation worsens when she discovers that Jimmy plans to leave for Barcelona, amplifying her heartbreak.

The nightclub becomes embroiled in a police raid due to tax fraud allegations. Amid this chaos, Alice and Charlotte witness the challenges of their failing jobs as their publishing house also faces layoffs.

The trio emerges from an unemployment office with pink slips, facing uncertainty about their futures. In a surprising twist, Alice receives a promotion after effectively changing her book's genre to self-help.

The film concludes with Alice and Josh celebrating her promotion by dancing to 'Love Train' on the subway. This moment of joy amidst the chaos signifies new beginnings and the strength of their relationship.