Zaynab, a Pakistani-American immigration lawyer, lives with her mother, a TV obsessed shut in. A lesbian, she's kept her sexual orientation a secret as her mother is traditional, expecting that she'll find a husband. When she meets Alma, a Mexican-American, and begins a relationship with her, Zaynab has to choose whether she'll be honest about herself while she also pursues wrestling.
Tropes:
- Bilingual Dialogue:
- Parveen talks to her daughter Zaynab in Urdu. Zaynab mostly talks back in English, though she speaks Urdu fluently as well. Parveen speaks English as well, but not as often.
- Rosa, Alma's mother, also speaks with her in Spanish as Alma answers using English generally.
- Boyish Short Hair: Zaynab has hers very short as part of her Butch Lesbian style, with her mother saying she should grow it out to attract men (she's unaware of her lesbianism at the time).
- Butch Lesbian: Zaynab is a short-haired lesbian, wearing men's suits while at her job as a lawyer, or masculine shirts and jeans when off work. She also works out frequently and as a result has a trim, muscular build. Her mother Parveen chides her for this, saying it makes her look too much like a man (she's unaware of Zaynab's sexuality at first). A supporting character, Killian, is also a lesbian with even more masculine attire and her hair in a mohawk.
- Closet Gay: Zaynab hasn't told her mother Parveen that she's a lesbian, with the latter still mentioning her hope she'll find a husband when the story starts. After she starts seeing Alma, the latter is not at all happy with this, not wanting to keep secrets. She goes along with meeting Parveen as supposedly just Zaynab's friend though. Alma's unhappy once again with being asked by Parveen about them finding husbands however. She breaks up with Zaynab as a result, not wanting to go along with keeping secrets or lying about her own identity, since Alma is out to her family, refusing to get back in the closet. After seeing the two as they argue, Parveen starts to realize Zaynab is a lesbian. She hasn't come out by the end, but it's strongly implied that she'll do it soon, and get back together with Alma.
- Disappeared Dad:
- Zaynab's father is dead when the story starts, leaving her to care for her mother Parveen, who's The Shut-In.
- Alma's father, on the other hand, left her and her mom years ago.
- Dramatization: The plot is closely based on actress Fawzia Mirza's life and her relationship with her former Mexican girlfriend, although all names have been changed (including hers).
- Falling-in-Love Montage: Zaynab and Alma are shown as they do different things together as they become closer, falling for each other.
- Feminine Mother, Tomboyish Daughter: Zaynab is a Butch Lesbian. Her mother Parveen is a traditional Muslim woman, always wearing a dress and mostly hijab too. They clash on many things, naturally, most particularly Parveen pushing for her to marry a man and have children, unaware at first that Zaynab is a lesbian.
- Lesbian Jock: Butch Lesbian Zaynab works out a lot, then she starts growing even more into one after she's learned to wrestle, then competes at it.
- Lingerie Scene: Zaynab and Alma are shown in their bras while making out once together as a prelude to sex on Alma's bed.
- Lipstick Lesbian: Alma is a lesbian with long hair, wearing jewelry and she favors stylish blouses, a dress once or other feminine outfits usually.
- Masculine–Feminine Gay Couple: Zaynab is a Butch Lesbian, and becomes a couple Alma, who's pretty feminine compared with her. Initially though they resist having an official relationship.
- Masked Luchador: Alma's mother was once a luchadora, as shown in a photo of her with a mask from those days. She used the name Luna Peligrosa. Zaynab starts getting into wrestling herself, wearing masks like this with Alma while they watch a bout and afterward too. Later on Zaynab becomes a luchadora and uses one while wrestling too.
- Maybe Ever After: Zaynab passionately kisses Alma right before the end when she walks away with her mother. It's thus implied they may get back together.
- Modesty Bedsheet: Zaynab wakes up beside Alma after they have sex with the covers around her chest. She walks away with them still around her trying to sneak out.
- Mrs. Robinson: Rosa, Alma's mother, teasingly acts like she's attracted to a much younger man just to shock her daughter.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Zaynab and Alma both note that their cultures have a lot in common. Both Pakistanis (Zaynab) and Mexicans (Alma) emphasize deference toward parents, traditional gender roles, straight marriage, etc.
- The Peeping Tom: Parveen spies on people from her apartment with binoculars at times, including her own daughter Zaynab when she's nearby outside.
- The Shut-In: Parveen never leaves the house, just watching Pakistani TV all day. Her daughter Zaynab attempts to get her outside for just a walk at least, countering her claim that her knees hurt too much by saying it'll just get worse if she doesn't move around more. Near the end, she finally leaves to see while Zaynab is competing in a lucha libre match.
- Signature Move: Discussed by Zaynab with her coach when she's getting into wrestling, asking which can be hers of her coach.
- Title Drop: Wrestlers having a signature move is brought up when Zaynab gets into wrestling. At the end, Zaynab claims kissing Alma is her own.
- Where Everybody Knows Your Flame: Zaynab meets Alma in a gay bar where they both go to have a drink. They dance there together later along with other women.
