A young man seeking fortune and fame gets the job of his life when he is hired at Studio 54. Shane is tired of his dead-end job in New Jersey and has always dreamed of making it big in New York. On a night on the town, he and his friends go to Studio 54, the hangout of all the celebs, socialites, and rich people who want to party. Outside, he is handpicked by the club's sleazy owner, Steve, to come in. He is obviously into him. In an instant, Shane's life is turned upside down as he gets a job as a busboy. He meets another employee Greg, apparently also seduced by the club's glitz. Greg is married to Anita who also works there and one day hopes to become a singer. The club is notorious for the extreme drug-use, wild sexual encounters, and debauchery happening inside its doors, and Shane eases into this life quickly. He sleeps with different women on many nights. He and Greg also get unwanted sexual advances from Steve. Shane becomes infatuated with a soapstar Julie who frequents the club, but fails to get her attention. However, when he becomes a popular bartender, he then starts to get newfound respect. Meanwhile, Steve has been under reporting his profits and hiding lots of money. Greg steals some to fund his drug dealing business. Shane eventually becomes disheartened with the lifestyle, and the breaking point arrives when a club regular dies of an overdose, Steve, not batting an eyelash. Shane quits. Steve is later arrested for tax fraud, and the club is closed down. 54's glory days are far behind it, it reopens under new management, but never reaches the iconic status it enjoyed in the 70's.
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Best part of story, including ending:
It's a sneak peek into the exclusive world of 54, based on extensive research done during that time period.
Best scene in story:
When Shane goes inside the club for the first time, taking it all in.
Opinion about the main character:
There's nothing to dislike about Shane, he's just a kid in a candy store, who sure enough gets tired of this phase in his life.