Times Square

Nicky and Pamela are both evaluated for mental illness in the New York Neurological Hospital and end up sharing a room. The brash, street-smart Nicky and the shy, poetic Pamela form an unlikely friendship. Their bond grows as they vent about the doctors' condescension and support each other’s dreams.

Nicky is released from the hospital and later returns under the pretense of a social-work appointment with Rosie Washington. In reality, she plans to break Pamela out of confinement. The risky plan marks a turning point as the girls decide to escape together.

The two girls escape the hospital and steal an ambulance to make their getaway. They hide out in an abandoned warehouse on the Chelsea Piers and vow to call each other’s names in times of trouble. The escape signals a new, rebellious chapter in their lives.

David Pearl reports Pamela missing and publicly accuses Nicky of kidnapping. A citywide search unfolds across New York City as authorities and media chase the story. The case pulls Pamela deeper into a world she’s trying to escape.

Radio DJ Johnny LaGuardia, broadcasting from a penthouse studio overlooking Times Square, learns Pamela is the elusive 'Zombie Girl' who has been writing to him. He resents David’s gentrification agenda and sees an opportunity to use the girls to challenge him. He reaches out through his platform to connect with Pamela and Nicky.

With LaGuardia’s backing, the girls start writing songs and form The Sleez Sisters, an underground punk duo. They use their music to rebel against the city’s pressures and to voice their own identities. The warehouse becomes a makeshift studio for their early work.

An open letter from Rosie is printed in the newspaper, praising Pamela and casting Nicky as troubled. The Sleez Sisters perform a defiant song live on WJAD, gaining notoriety and drawing more attention from the city. Their rising fame unsettles those who seek to control them.

In a bold act of defiance, the girls throw televisions off a series of rooftops, sending a message to the city and provoking headlines. The stunt cements their status as rebellious icons. The city begins to see them as a symbol of resistance.

Pamela embraces a burgeoning sense of freedom and contemplates returning home, while Nicky wants to stay with The Sleez Sisters and grows jealous of Pamela’s relationship with LaGuardia. Their friendship strains under conflicting ambitions and loyalties. The rift marks a turning point in their partnership.

Nicky has a breakdown, briefly drowning in despair, and drunkenly breaks into WJAD to demand airtime, only to find LaGuardia never puts her on the air. Midway through a song, she calls out Pamela for help, revealing the depth of her desperation. A pivotal moment tests their bond and loyalty to their music.

A sympathetic LaGuardia escorts Pamela to Nicky, repairing some of the rift between them. Pamela then takes Nicky to David’s office in Times Square, signaling a bold attempt to reach the source of their troubles. The plan shifts toward staging a new, citywide confrontation.

Pamela arranges an impromptu, illegal midnight show and calls every local radio station to spread the word. She plans a dramatic ascent to the rooftop of a Grindhouse on 42nd Street, inviting fans to converge for a rebellious performance. The city hums with anticipation as the countdown begins.

In a garbage-bag costume and bandit makeup, Nicky performs on the marquee roof above a cheering crowd as police close in. She leaps into a blanket held by fans and dissolves into the sea of supporters, vanishing into the night. Pamela watches, moved by the spectacle and the power of their shared escape.