[2] Mary is a free-spirited young woman living in New York City who fills her days by going to nightclubs and house parties.

To repay the bail, Mary reluctantly agrees to work as a clerk at a branch of the New York Public Library that Judy manages.

Despite her initial misgivings, Mary is inspired to learn how to use the Dewey Decimal System after smoking a joint and strikes up a romance with Mustafa, a Lebanese street vendor and aspiring teacher.

She invites Judy over for a serious talk but then Mary is dismayed to discover a raucous surprise birthday party complete with a male stripper.

[5] Party Girl had an Internet premiere ahead of its wide release, transmitted from the office of Glenn Fleishman and his Point of Presence Company on June 3, 1995.

[2] While the early video transmission was limited to black and white, it marked the first time a feature film with an American movie theater release was broadcast generally online.

[10][11] A television series based on the film was produced in 1996, starring Christine Taylor as Mary and Swoosie Kurtz as Judy.