THE STORY —

On paper, Zoe Singh, Max Whitney, Charlie Henderson, and Berry Gomez could not be more different.

Zoe self-identifies as ABCD: American Born Confused Desi. Juggling her 9-5 and teaching pole left her boyfriend demanding more attention, so she quit her desk job and opened her own studio: apparently the wrong choice for him. While Zoe’s studio is a haven for many, it is falling apart behind the scenes. Her outwardly confident demeanor and rallying cries of self-empowerment inspire, but mostly serve to bury Zoe’s own struggle with her traditional Hindi family's expectations and uncertainty of the future. Unwilling to be any more vulnerable in front of her parents, Zoe finally tells them about her break-up but keeps the studio troubles between herself and her brother: her secret investor. Newly single and struggling, Zoe finds solace in new friendships.

After being drawn in by Zoe’s pole showcase, Charlie is reinspired to find herself while maneuvering between creative pursuits and the pressures of motherhood. Charlie and Zoe form an instant bond, despite their apparent differences, and they lean heavily on one another through the pressures of adulting.

Also in the mix is one of Zoe's students, Max, a Black transfemme facing blatant tokenization at their work-from-home corporate nightmare. Thankfully pole dance and caring for their plants bring them happiness: even if they aren’t particularly skilled at either.

Behind the studio’s front desk sits Berry, barely hiding her growing baby bump, unsure if she’s truly ready for motherhood.

At first, they all throw themselves hard at what they think is expected of them: Zoe immediately gets back into the dating pool, Max dutifully steps up to their facade of a promotion, Charlie tries her hand at the PTA, and Berry is taking on as much as she can do distract herself from her childhood dreams falling apart. An amalgamation of the millennial experience, this ensemble all quickly bond when they realize the only way through these failed attempts at adulthood is together.