Metropolitan 1990

As the snowflakes gently fell upon the concrete jungle of New York City, a select coterie of privileged socialites returned home from their collegiate sojourns for the festive season, coinciding with the debutante ball circuit. Amidst this whirlwind of champagne toasts and velvet-draped ballrooms, Princeton student Tom Townsend (Edward Clements) found himself swept up in a serendipitous encounter with Nick Smith (Chris Eigeman), leader of the enigmatic “Sally Fowler Rat Pack” or SFRP. As they careened through the city’s nocturnal landscape in a taxi cab, Nick and his cohorts welcomed Tom into their fold, inviting him to an after-party at Sally Fowler’s (Dylan Hundley) parents’ opulent Upper East Side apartment.

As the evening wore on, Tom revealed himself to be a man of modest means, still reeling from the aftermath of his parents’ divorce three years prior. His wealthy father’s remarriage had left Tom scrambling to make ends meet, forcing him to rely on public transportation rather than the luxurious taxis that catered to his peers. This admission sparked a lively discussion with Audrey Rouget (Carolyn Farina) and her best friend Jane Clarke (Allison Parisi), who regaled Tom with tales of their own boarding school days, including the salacious rumors surrounding his former flame, Serena Slocum.

Audrey and Jane’s conversation turned to Tom’s apparent disdain for the debutante scene, which he had expressed in his letters. Tom confessed that his attendance at tonight’s ball was merely a case of boredom rather than any genuine enthusiasm. Charlie Black (Taylor Nichols), an erudite intellectual with a penchant for pontificating on the state of preppy society, accused Tom of being a hypocrite, prompting a lively debate about the merits of Fourierism and its failed ideals.

Despite his initial reservations, Sally Fowler extended an invitation to Tom to join her at another party the following night. However, after a restless dawn spent in his divorced mother’s cozy Upper West Side apartment, Tom found himself facing the cruel reality that he was too late to return his rented tuxedo. It was then that Jane Clarke telephoned him, lamenting an “escort shortage” and persuading Tom to accompany Audrey Rouget to tonight’s gathering. With a sense of resignation, Tom donned his formal attire once more and joined his friends for another night of revelry in the city that never sleeps.

At a luxurious black-tie affair at the storied Plaza Hotel, Serena Slocum (Ellia Thompson) makes an entrance alongside her new companion, Rick Von Sloneker (Will Kempe), a noble gentleman with a dubious reputation. Nick Smith’s disdain for Von Sloneker is palpable, and he decries the titled aristocracy as a plague upon society. Meanwhile, Audrey and Tom engage in a conversation about literature, with Audrey waxing poetic about her favorite novels, including Jane Austen’s ‘Mansfield Park’, which leaves Tom perplexed given its notorious reputation for being a lesser work.

As the night wears on, Charlie Black delivers a diatribe about the inevitability of downward social mobility for their entire preppy class. Nick, ever the pragmatist, promises to secure Tom’s spot on the floor committee for the upcoming Christmas ball, but Tom is adamant that he will not be attending any more dances. Nick surmises that Tom’s reluctance stems from financial constraints, and offers to take him shopping for a stylish tuxedo at a reduced price.

Tom remains fixated on Serena, despite Audrey’s clear interest in him. Later, as the two men commiserate about their respective woes, Tom confides in Audrey about his troubled relationship with his estranged father, whom he rarely sees due to his stepmother’s aversion to house guests. The conversation turns to ‘Mansfield Park’ once more, and Tom defends his right to form opinions on literature, even if he doesn’t actually read novels himself.

The following night, the group assembles at another opulent hotel for a grand ball. Charlie laments the negative connotations of the term “bourgeoisie”, given the bourgeoisie’s significant contributions to society. As Tom waits outside the restrooms with Audrey, he encounters Serena, who reveals that she and Rick have gone their separate ways. Tom agrees to escort Serena home, and asks his inebriated friend Fred Neff (Bryan Leder) to pass along a message to Audrey, only for Fred to forget what was said amidst his drunken haze.

Fred’s unfortunate mishap leads to a scene of chaos, with the poor man vomiting on another partygoer and requiring assistance to leave. Tom, meanwhile, takes Serena home, sharing a romantic goodnight kiss outside her apartment. Later, he stumbles upon the SFRP at Sally’s apartment, where Audrey is left reeling from his sudden disappearance. Charlie, who harbors a secret crush on Audrey, rebukes Tom for abandoning her and labels him an egoist. The next day, Audrey attempts to rationalize Tom’s behavior, but Jane warns her to be cautious, pointing out the inconsistencies in his actions. Despite this, Audrey remains steadfast in her feelings for Tom, refusing to give up on him despite what may seem like insurmountable odds.

As the night unfolds, Audrey (character A) extends an olive branch to Tom, allowing her to forgive him for abandoning her in favor of Serena. Meanwhile, Charlie coins a term to describe the privileged clique they’re a part of: Urban Haute Bourgeoisie, or UHB. This clever moniker serves as a clever euphemism for their elite status. In another corner of the gathering, Cynthia McLean, who shares a complicated history with Rick Von Sloneker, presses Nick (character A) to reveal why he harbors such animosity towards her former beau. Nick regales the group with the tragic tale of Polly Perkins, whose life was tragically cut short after being manipulated by Von Sloneker into participating in a degrading and humiliating act. As the evening wears on, Nick walks home alongside Tom, confessing that “Polly Perkins” is actually a composite of real individuals he’s encountered.

On Christmas Eve, Jane issues a warning to Audrey about Tom’s lingering feelings for Serena, leaving her reeling with sadness. As the night drags on, Audrey finds herself wandering aimlessly through the city, her spirits crushed by the weight of Tom’s infidelity. She stumbles upon Serena at a church service, where they commiserate over hymns and tears. Meanwhile, Tom spends Christmas Eve alone at his mother’s apartment, grappling with the consequences of his actions.

Two days later, on Boxing Day, the SFRP gang reconvenes to play bridge and strip poker at Jane’s parents’ apartment. As they mingle and gamble, Tom reveals that he spent Christmas visiting his father only to discover that he’d relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico, leaving him feeling disinheritance and disillusioned. He also shares an unexpected fondness for Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’, citing its nuanced exploration of relationships as a welcome respite from the chaos of their own lives.

As the night wears on, Nick and Cynthia indulge in mescaline, leading Nick to descend into paranoid territory. Later, during a game of “Truth,” Jane presses Tom to reveal his romantic interests in descending order. Tom names only Serena, predicting that he’ll abandon romance for the foreseeable future if things don’t work out with her. Audrey, feeling increasingly isolated and vulnerable, exits the room.

Charlie attempts to console her with declarations of affection, but she flees in distress. Meanwhile, Nick remains at The International, a televised white-tie debutante ball, as the rest of the group watches from Jane’s apartment. Jane extends an invitation to Rick Von Sloneker, who arrives and confronts Nick about Polly Perkins. Nick confesses that “Polly” was actually a pseudonym used to protect Cathy Livingston’s identity.

The mention of Cathy’s name sends Von Sloneker into a rage, denying any involvement in her suicide despite the overwhelming evidence. He pummels Nick, breaking his nose in the process. As the night draws to a close, Nick implores Tom to watch over the SFRP and then boards a train, bound for his estranged father’s home and his college campus, leaving the group to pick up the pieces of their shattered relationships.

As the sun sets over the urban landscape, Tom takes Serena out for a luxurious dinner at an upscale eatery. However, their evening is marred when she nonchalantly reveals that she had discarded her old love letters without a second thought. But it’s not just any old love letters - they’re the very same ones that Audrey, a devoted fan of Tom’s literary endeavors, had asked to keep as a treasured memento. This sudden realization awakens something within Tom, and he sets out on a mission to track down Audrey, only to discover that she and Cynthia have slipped away to Rick Von Sloneker’s opulent beachside retreat in Southampton, Long Island.

The next evening, Jane departs for a date with someone from another college, leaving Tom to join Charlie and Fred at a local watering hole. It’s here that they encounter an erudite older gentleman who politely dismisses Charlie’s doomsday theories about the UHB’s impending failure. As Fred leaves the group to head home - having recently quit drinking and secured a steady job as a college graduate - Tom and Charlie pay a visit to Sally, an aspiring singer with a flair for the dramatic. However, she’s busy charming a record producer named Allen Green and sends them packing, deeming them “tiresome.”

The following morning, Tom convinces Charlie that Von Sloneker might be taking advantage of Audrey and that they should stage an intervention. But when they attempt to rent a car in order to make their way to Southampton, they’re met with a series of roadblocks - neither Tom nor Charlie is licensed to drive, and Fred’s newfound sobriety means he can’t join them on their quest. Undeterred, Charlie forks over the cash for a taxi to ferry them to Von Sloneker’s beachside abode, where they manage to sneak in and find Cynthia and Audrey soaking up the sun beneath heat lamps indoors.

As tensions rise, Von Sloneker takes a swipe at Audrey, prompting Tom to pull out a toy gun - a move that proves more comedic than confrontational. As they leave the beach house, Tom and Audrey take a leisurely stroll along the shore, with Audrey’s eyes lighting up when Tom suggests he might visit France, where she’ll be attending college after the winter break comes to a close on New Year’s Day.

In an ironic twist, Charlie, Tom, and Audrey find themselves thumbing a ride back to Manhattan - their lack of wheels or taxi services leaving them no choice but to hitch a ride with passersby. As they disappear into the distance, the camera lingers on the empty beach, a poignant reminder that sometimes even the most well-intentioned plans can go awry.