Stranded in Paradise

The film opens with Tess Nelson, a dedicated HR professional at Connor.com, carrying out the difficult task of firing employees during a company restructuring. Ironically, her boss Len then informs her that her own position is 'expendable' and she is being let go. Despite the setback, Tess's mother Mona pressures her to 'take charge' and succeed, leading Tess to fly to Puerto Rico for an HR conference to network for a new job. On the flight, she meets Carter McConnell, a relaxed traveler with whom she bickers over a window seat. Upon arrival, Tess's trip becomes a comedy of errors: her luggage is sent to Boston, her hotel reservation is canceled by a former coworker's mistake, and the hotel itself is a noisy construction zone. At the conference, Tess struggles to make connections and feels like a failure after a series of awkward encounters with industry leaders. A fire breaks out at her hotel, and because she isn't on the official guest list, she is left without a room. Carter intervenes and introduces her to Stella, an eccentric woman who walks her cat, Henry, on a leash. As Hurricane Alana approaches, Tess and Carter take shelter at Stella's beautiful home. Stella, a former semi-famous actress, shares her wisdom about taking 'leaps of faith' and living for oneself rather than for fame or expectations. During the storm, Tess and Carter board up windows and dance to jazz, and Tess begins to shed her rigid corporate persona. After the hurricane passes, Tess receives an email from Len offering her a promotion to Vice President of Corporate Affairs. She returns to Denver to accept the job, but once she is in her new dream office, she realizes she is miserable and that she was only chasing the title to please her mother. In a moment of clarity, Tess turns down the promotion, recommends her friend Clara for the role, and confronts her mother about her need to find her own joy. She flies back to Puerto Rico and finds Carter just as he is preparing to leave for a volunteer mission in the Philippines. They confess their feelings and join a street dance celebration, with Tess finally embracing an unplanned, happy life.