Showgirls

In the frigid landscape of a snow-dusted truck stop, a lone figure emerges - a young woman with a determined glint in her eye. The majestic peaks of Colorado's Rocky Mountains looming in the distance, she sets out on an uncertain journey, thumb extended in search of a ride. A rusty pickup truck, driven by a man whose rough-around-the-edges demeanor seems to scream "watch your back," slows down beside her. Though her instincts whisper warnings, Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) cautiously climbs aboard, her destination - the neon-lit streets of Vegas - beckoning like a siren's call. The driver, who introduces himself as a Vegas-bound traveler, tries to strike up a conversation and, more insidiously, flirtations with our intrepid heroine. But Nomi is not one to be trifled with; when his advances turn lecherous, she reveals a switchblade glinting in the fading light of day. A harrowing near-miss with an oncoming tractor trailer leaves both parties shaken, and Nomi agrees to stow her blade for the time being. Upon arriving in Sin City, the driver drops Nomi off at a dingy casino under the guise of securing her employment, but his true intentions are far more nefarious. He convinces her to leave her suitcase in the truck before vanishing into thin air, leaving behind only a paltry ten dollars and a slot machine with which to pass the time. It's not until Nomi returns to the parking lot, suitcase and driver both gone, that she realizes she's been left high and dry - the victim of a calculated abandonment. As tears stream down her face and her fists pound against the side of a nearby car in frustration, a kindred spirit, Molly (Gina Ravera), a seamstress with a heart as warm as the Las Vegas sun, intervenes just in time to prevent Nomi from careening into the path of oncoming traffic. In the aftermath of this chance encounter, Molly invites Nomi back to her trailer park home, offering solace and a sense of belonging to a young woman who has been drifting through life like a lost leaf on an autumn breeze.

Two months have elapsed since Nomi's life took an unexpected turn. She now finds herself dancing topless at the seedy Cheetah's Topless Club, a den of iniquity run with ruthless efficiency by Al Torres (Robert Davi). The club's manager and emcee, Torres appears to take great pleasure in Nomi's presence, reveling in the tantalizing spectacle she provides. For her part, Nomi views the Cheetah as an opportunity to showcase her dancing skills while still earning a living, rather than degrading herself with more mundane employment.

While out enjoying a night on the town at The Crave Club, Nomi crosses paths with James Smith (Glenn Plummer), a burly bouncer who can't help but be impressed by her lithe form and fluid movements. However, his admiration is short-lived, as he dares to criticize her performance, prompting Nomi to exact a measure of revenge by delivering a swift kick between his legs. The sudden commotion sparks a melee, with patrons trading punches and Nomi watching with a mixture of amusement and detachment. Her mirth is short-lived, though, as someone recognizes the troublemaker and she's hauled off to jail. James bails her out the following morning, but Nomi remains unforgiving, still smarting from his earlier criticism.

One fateful evening, Nomi accompanies Molly backstage at Goddess, the premier topless revue at the illustrious Stardust Hotel, where Molly works as a seamstress. As they mingle with the performers and crew, Nomi's eyes are agog with wonder, her long-held dream of becoming a showgirl tantalizingly close. Molly introduces Nomi to Cristal Connors (Gina Gershon), the vaunted star of the show, whose sharp wit and sassy demeanor leave Nomi in her thrall. When Nomi reveals that she's also a dancer, Cristal is quick to dismiss her claims, likening what she does at the Cheetah to prostitution. Nomi seethes with indignation, and her reaction piques Cristal, whose bisexuality and evident attraction to Nomi create a palpable tension.

The very next evening, Cristal and her cocaine-fueled boyfriend Zach Carey (Kyle MacLachlan), the Stardust's entertainment director, pay Nomi a visit at the Cheetah. With Torres' encouragement, Nomi reluctantly agrees to perform a private dance for the pair, an experience that leaves her feeling mortified and embarrassed. James, who has been lurking in the shadows, witnesses this sordid spectacle and confronts Nomi the following day, his concern for her well-being tempered by his disgust at what he perceives as her degradation. Nomi's anger simmers just below the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment.

As the days pass, Nomi is unexpectedly thrust into an audition process for the coveted Goddess production, courtesy of Cristal's cunning arrangement. The unyielding director, Tony Moss (Alan Rachins), greets Nomi with a condescending remark about her outfit, labeling her a "Pollyanna" and sending her into a whirlwind of emotions. Seeking to shake off his harsh words, Nomi ditches her blouse backstage and unleashes a raw, unbridled dance performance in her underwear. Her gaze momentarily meets Cristal's, watching from the shadows with an air of detachment.

As Nomi exits the audition, she is met with Tony Moss's demands for her to incorporate ice into her routine. Feeling belittled and disrespected, she storms off the premises. Cristal approaches her as tears stream down Nomi's face, only to receive a harsh rebuke: "I hate you." The emotional turmoil leaves Nomi reeling.

Seeking solace in familiar surroundings, Nomi finds James working as a bellhop and he takes her back to his apartment. As they share an intimate moment, James showcases a dance routine he created specifically for Nomi, celebrating her career as a private dancer.

Despite the tumultuous audition experience, Nomi secures a spot on the Goddess production team. She promptly quits her job at the Cheetah and delivers a parting shot to Al Torres before rushing over to share the news with James. However, she is met with an unexpected revelation: James is in the midst of an intimate moment with Penny (Rena Riffel), one of Nomi's former colleagues from the Cheetah.

As Nomi prepares for her debut at Goddess, she dons a stunning new dress from Versace. Unbeknownst to her, this fashion choice will inadvertently betray her unrefined upbringing when she mispronounces the design as "Vur-SAYSS" in front of the producers. Only Zach takes notice and offers words of encouragement, praising Nomi's sense of style.

The night of Nomi's debut arrives, and she takes to the Goddess stage with poise and confidence. Her dance moves garner widespread acclaim from both cast members and stagehands alike, solidifying her place within the production.

As the culinary landscape unfolds at a high-end eatery, Cristal extends an olive branch to Nomi, and they embark on a convivial lunch conversation. It becomes apparent that both women share a common denominator - their troubled and unhappy childhoods led them to flee home at a tender age, driven by a burning desire to forge their own paths in life. However, Cristal's candid nature soon reveals her true colors as she once again reduces Nomi to a mere "whore," implying that they're all prostitutes for exchanging sensual entertainment for financial compensation. Despite this hurtful remark, Nomi permits Cristal to engage her in an intimate dance performance at the Stardust Theater when they're alone on stage, allowing Cristal to unfasten Nomi's top. As Cristal leans in for a kiss, her mocking tone pierces the air: "You see, darlin'? You are indeed a whore." Enraged by this affront, Nomi storms off once more, leaving their fragile truce in tatters.

From that moment on, these two former allies become sworn enemies. Cristal ceaselessly launches malicious barbs at Nomi both on and off stage, relentlessly attempting to portray her as a cheap floozy. She orchestrates a promotional appearance for Nomi with Phil Newkirk (Greg Travis), Zach's assistant, aware that this will inevitably lead to Nomi being propositioned for sexual favors. When Phil makes his move, Nomi furiously rebuffs him, mistakenly perceiving Zach as an ally when he pretends to scold Phil for his transgressions.

One fateful evening, Nomi accepts a ride from Zach and finds herself at his opulent estate on the outskirts of town. As the night wears on, she seduces Zach, and they indulge in a sensual escapade by the pool. The next morning, as Nomi departs, Zach casually mentions an open audition for Cristal's understudy. This revelation comes on the heels of a backstage sabotage incident involving two rival showgirls, whose rivalry culminates in one dancer suffering a debilitating knee injury after being tripped during a performance. With this tidbit of information, Zach encourages Nomi to pursue the role, sensing an opportunity for her to gain an upper hand over Cristal.

As Cristal takes her place before the audition panel, a seismic shift in dynamics becomes palpable; Zach's suggestion that Nomi serve as Cristal's understudy finds favor with the choreographer, while Tony Moss's dissenting opinion sparks tension. Cristal's discovery of Zach's intimate connection with Nomi adds fuel to the fire, and her subsequent realization that Nomi has been tapped for the role only exacerbates her ire. A threat to abandon the production and seek legal recourse ultimately forces a reversal of the decision, leaving Nomi reeling from the unforeseen consequences of her power grab.

Meanwhile, James's performance at the Crave Club is met with disdain, prompting him to contemplate a career change in light of his pregnancy-announced girlfriend. As Nomi bids farewell to James, she becomes embroiled in a personal crisis of her own, as Cristal's on-stage taunts during the Goddess performance serve only to further escalate their longstanding rivalry.

In a shocking turn of events, Nomi's frustration boils over when she impulsively pushes Cristal down the stairs, sending her to the hospital and precipitating a dramatic shift in the power dynamics. As Cristal recovers from her injuries, Nomi finds herself thrust into the spotlight, capitalizing on Cristal's absence to make a dazzling debut as lead performer. Molly, however, has deduced the truth behind Cristal's fall, but her efforts to confront Nomi are foiled by a seemingly accidental eyewitness who corroborates Nomi's version of events.

As Nomi basks in the glory of her newfound fame and fortune, she invites Molly to join her for the premiere party, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. However, the evening takes a devastating turn when Molly is brutally assaulted by Andrew Carver, a famous musician, and his entourage, leaving Nomi's carefully constructed world precariously poised on the brink of collapse.

As Molly's fragile state necessitates hospitalization, Zach reveals to Nomi that they will compensate her handsomely to maintain a discreet silence, their primary concern being the protection of their A-list celebrity client rather than seeking justice for the vulnerable victim. However, Nomi's innate sense of morality is stirred when she decides to make an anonymous phone call to the authorities, prompting Zach to confront her with a shocking revelation that shatters her carefully constructed persona. By addressing her as "Polly", Zach exposes his discovery that Nomi's references were fabricated, and her true identity as Polly Ann Costello from San Francisco was unearthed through a background check.

This explosive truth is further corroborated by the existence of a police file containing details of Nomi's troubled past, which includes multiple arrests across various states for offenses such as drug possession, prostitution, and assault with a deadly weapon. This seedy history, replete with a traumatic childhood marked by maternal murder at the hands of her father in 1989, has led Polly to wander the country, reinventing herself through name changes and a life of crime.

Confronted with the brutal reality of her past and her own morally bankrupt nature, Nomi is compelled to flee Las Vegas. However, before vanishing into the night, she pays a visit to Andrew Carver, an individual who has consistently made lewd advances towards her since their initial encounter. Unfazed by Carver's salacious overtures, Nomi invites herself up to his hotel room, where she proceeds to strip bare and then exact a terrifying vengeance upon him with a switchblade, vowing to kill him if he utters a word. As Carver lies bloodied and unconscious, Nomi exits the room, leaving behind her would-be victim's helpless guards.

As Nomi visits Molly's hospital room, she bears witness to a fragile existence, a mere flicker of consciousness amidst the sterile hospital environment. With a mix of somber determination and quiet conviction, Nomi breaks the news to Molly that she has exacted a measure of justice on behalf of her battered friend, having taken down Andrew Carver with a fierce intensity. The words hang in the air like a fragile mist as Molly's semi-conscious form struggles to process the information.

With a heavy heart, Nomi departs the hospital, only to find herself face-to-face with Cristal, now confined to a hospital bed and seemingly unbothered by Nomi's earlier stunt. Cristal's matter-of-fact tone belies a calculating intelligence as she reveals that she too has leveraged similar tactics to advance her own interests, having secured a substantial indemnity from her lawyers. "There's always someone younger and hungrier than you waiting in the wings," she observes with a wry smile, her words dripping with a cold pragmatism.

As Nomi says her goodbyes, a sudden spark of passion ignites between them, culminating in a fierce and intimate kiss that leaves an indelible mark on both parties. The scene fades to black as Nomi exits the hospital, her thoughts consumed by the duality of human nature: the capacity for brutality and the need for connection.

In a striking twist of fate, Nomi finds herself sharing a ride with none other than the same individual who had earlier preyed upon her - the very man responsible for the trauma she endured at the film's outset. As they hurtle towards Los Angeles, Nomi seizes the opportunity to exact a measure of revenge, unleashing a torrent of fury on her tormentor as the two drive headlong into the city's sprawling metropolis.