A titan of industry is sent to prison after she's caught insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America's latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.
The story follows Michelle Darnell, a titan of industry who is sent to prison for insider trading, denounced by her former lover, Renault, who still holds a heavy grudge towards her for their breakup, after getting a promotion a few years ago. After doing her time, Michelle emerges, ready to re-brand herself as America's latest sweetheart, but not everyone she steamrolled is not so quick to forgive and forget. With nowhere to go and no one to scam, Michelle is forced to move in with former assistant Claire and her young daughter, Rachel. Now at her lowest point, Michelle wastes no time in devising a winner-take-all plan to rebuild her empire..
Michelle Darnell is the wealthy (she the forty-eighth richest woman in the US), successful, narcissistic, brash, and over-the-top businesswoman of her self-branded empire based in Manhattan. She is a manifestation of her upbringing, she, an orphan, having been rejected by a series of parents who did adopt her but ended up sending her back to the Catholic orphanage. Her life changes abruptly when turned in to the authorities by cutthroat business rival Renault (whose real name is Ronald, he changing it to sound more important) for insider trading, he a serious boyfriend twenty-five years ago before either became rich and successful. Upon her release from prison, Michelle, now bankrupt with no where to go and no one to turn to with her most recent associates having burnt their bridges in their true dislike for her, ends up turning to who was her hard working but unappreciated assistant, single mom Claire Rawlings, taking Michelle into her tiny Brooklyn apartment only on the urging of her empathetic ten year old daughter, Rachel Rawlings. With none of those former associates even wanting to speak to her, Michelle has to find a way to get back on her feet to the style to which she is accustomed. She believes she's found a way through both Rachel and Claire, who have to decide if Michelle is worth the risk, her business plan which does have at its core girl empowerment which she herself learned the hard way. Michelle herself may be the biggest obstacle in well hidden insecurities coming to the surface.—Huggo
Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) was a rejected orphan as a child. She was returned by every family who adopted her. She grows up to be the CEO of a number of companies and the 47th richest woman in the world. Claire Rawlings (Kristen Bell) is Michelle's PA & does all sorts of odd jobs for her. Michelle is giving a hard time to Claire over a well earned raise. Tito (Cedric Yarbrough) is Michelle's driver.
Michelle's business rival is Renault (Peter Dinklage). Michelle has blocked an acquisition that Renault was after, by buying the shares of his target company. Renault accuses her of insider trading. Renault also dated Michelle in the 90's when they worked for the same company. Michelle screwed over REnault to take a promotion that he deserved.
Ida Marquette ( Kathy Bates) is considered to be Michelle's mentor, who hates her now.The next day Michelle is arrested by the SEC for insider trading. Claire quits. Michelle's firm is taken over by Renault in a hostile takeover. Michelle spends 5 months in prison, & when she comes out she has nowhere to go.Claire is working for Dana Dandridge (Cecily Strong), who is a micro manager & Claire hates her. Michelle reaches out to Claire & Claire allows her to stay in her house when her daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson) insists.
A titan of industry is sent to prison after she's caught insider trading. When she emerges ready to re-brand herself as America's latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget. Renault has paid off all of Michelle's former supporters & employees, so that no one is willing to hire her again. As a result Michelle is staying at Claire's for over 3 weeks. Claire asks Michelle to start helping around the house.
Michelle attends one of Rachel's Dandelions meetings & learns that Dandelions cookie company is using school girls to sell their product, with the promise of putting it into social work, but not really doing anything for anyone. Michelle's proposal is use her company to let young girls like Rachel earn money that they can put towards their college funds. She calls the venture Michelle's Darlings. They poach school girls from the Dandelions to sell their cookies that Claire bakes.
The venture starts slow but gathers steam and starts making good money. Michelle asks Claire to trust her & come on board full time to bake the cookies.Michele convinces Ida to back the new venture. Claire and Rachel start getting too close and emotional to Michelle. Thats when Michelle just gets the hell out of their lives.
Michele goes ahead & uses Ida's money to open a commercial kitchen to scale up production. She finds Claire talking to Renault & assumes the worst. Claire and Michelle fight & Michelle walks away from the business. Michelle approaches Renault to sell off the cookie business, while Claire is lost without Michele. Renault buys the business & evicts Claire and the girls out of the kitchen.
Within a day Michelle feels horrible and apologizes to Claire and Rachel. She plans to steal the contract signed with Renault, so that the company remains with Claire and her. Claire and Michelle enter Renault's private office & locate the contract, but are confronted by Renault, who takes up a samurai sword fight with Michelle. They exchange blows, but eventually end up kissing each other. Claire tears up the contract and 8 months later, Claire and Rachel move into a big house with the profits from the cookie business.
