Trama

A drama teacher's taboo relationship with an unstable student strikes a nerve in her jealous classmate, sparking a vengeful chain of events within their suburban high school that draws parallels to 'The Crucible'.

It's the start of a new year at a small suburban high school. Abigail is an outcast who seeks solace in the worlds of the characters she reads about, much to the amusement of her manipulative classmate, Melissa. When an intriguing new drama teacher Jeremy casts Abigail over Melissa in Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Abigail's confidence blooms, and soon her relationship with Jeremy begins to move beyond just fantasy. Melissa, fueled by vengeful jealousy, begins to spiral out of control and concocts a plot against Abigail. This triggers a chain of events that will come to affect everyone around them, as well as reveal some dark truths.

Abigail is shown lying in bed at the movie's start. She doesn't want to go back to high school. Wherever it is, the school is identified only as "MHS". Among the books she has in her bedroom is "Sybil".

But Ms. Cohen, in a meeting with Abigail and her parents, says Abigail should go ahead and get back to her routine as soon as possible. The parents agree.

Melissa is a cheerleader who wears too much makeup and not enough clothes. Her hair is several different colors, some of which could not possibly be found in nature. She is quite rebellious and listens to rap music. Robert, the man she lives with, tells her she needs to get out of bed because she has just enough time to get to school. And don't wear that. In a later scene Robert is called to the school because a parent needs to meet with someone from the school, but Melissa says, "He's not my father", to which the reply is that he is a guardian.

At school, Melissa changes out of the proper outfit, putting on something unacceptable, though no one from the school seems to think so. She is so happy to see her friends Sophie and Ellie. Then they see Abigail and call her "Psycho Sybil". Ellie isn't as enthusiastic about making fun of Abigail. One of the reasons they make fun of her is her limp.

In Mrs. Howell's class, Abigail talks about her collection of glass animals. She is holding a unicorn. Mrs. Howell is pregnant.

In the library, Eric asks Abigail for her number saying he would like to go out with her. He seems really nice until he asks which one of her personalities will he be dating. Then he, TJ and another boy laugh.

The next day Jeremy Woods is teaching Mrs. Howell's class, saying Mrs. Howell went into labor. Although Mrs. Howell left him a lesson plan, he does not want to teach "The Glass Menagerie". Instead he wants the class to perform "The Crucible" for the 2016 Drama Showcase. The performance must take place in the auditorium during a single class period, which will not be long enough for the entire play, so Jeremy will divide the class into groups and the ones who do the best job will get to perform in the auditorium, and the rest of the play will be done in the classroom only. Abigail is late to class and Jeremy first tells her to get a pass from the guidance office, then he says he is kidding. When he gives out the major parts, Jeremy wants Abigail to be Abigail because she has the name already, and he wants her to complete with Melissa for the part. Eric is given another role which will involve romance with the character Abigail. Melissa considers Eric to be her boyfriend and she isn't happy.

Jeremy goes home and Jennifer has great news. There is a job Jeremy would be great for and he just has to meet with Michael. Jeremy explains that the teaching job is a commitment but he can take the other job later. Jennifer is frustrated that Jeremy doesn't have enough ambition and thinks that teaching is silly. At least it is better than trying to make it as an actor. But Jennifer wishes Jeremy would commit to something permanently, suggesting he never has. Jeremy thanks her for coming over and their goodbye is quite platonic.

At home, Abigail lights candles in her room and there is creepy art.

When the time comes to perform the roles in class, Eric is out sick. Or is he? Two of the students are shown making out. Melissa isn't there either so Jeremy tells Abigail to play Abigail, and Jeremy will play the other role, as he did in college. Abigail is quite good, and later Jeremy invites her to the auditorium to learn about the various jobs required to put on a play. Later signs advertising the performance list Abigail as assistant director. Melissa will be understudy.

There is a football game. The cheerleaders are shown excited before the game. Afterward Melissa and Sophie drink and plot against Abigail. There are other scenes where the girls drink or smoke or both, sometimes with boys.

The next day Eric apologizes for not being there to play his role, and he asks Abigail to meet him in the auditorium after school to spend extra time on their lines. Eric never intended to show up and the other girls lock Abigail in the auditorium. Jeremy finds her there and lets her out, and since it is raining he takes her home. It is not out of his way. In a later scene, Abigail believes she lost her necklace in his car and Jeremy offers to help her search.

Jennifer is waiting for Jeremy at his place and demands to know why he didn't meet with Michael. When his explanation isn't satisfactory, she goes back home.

Abigail starts showing up at school dressed like her character. She and Melissa get in arguments but only Melissa gets in trouble because either Abigail changes personality quickly or she's a really good actress. It has been established that at least in the play, the latter is true. In one scene, Abigail is furious because Melissa has her necklace. Abigail backs off but Melissa is shaken up. Sophie also behaves like a bully from time to time but Ellie is ostracized when she doesn't want to.

Later Abigail's clothing becomes more sexy than Puritanical.

Jeremy and Abigail continue to rehearse in the auditorium. When they have to kiss, it is quite real. Word gets out that Abigail and Jeremy are having an inappropriate relationship. In fact, when Jeremy and Jennifer get together and start kissing (and possibly doing more), the audience sees Abigail.

Sophie sees Ellie in the chemistry lab and apologizes for the way she has been treating Ellie. Sophie says they should study together for the chemistry test, and she confesses she and Eric had sex. When they study together, Ellie is out of the room and Sophie finds her diary, which has the evidence that Jeremy and Abigail are having an inappropriate relationship.

Sophie and Melissa get together later and Melissa searches online for information about teachers and students having sex. Somehow Sophie has Ellie's diary but it is missing the important page.

After another football game, there is a homecoming event. The other girls dress nicely but Melissa's outfit can best be described as S & M. Sophie admits to Ellie she read the diary and tells Ellie she should report what Jeremy and Abigail are doing. Ellie doesn't want to and she's not happy Sophie got into her diary.

On another day, Melissa sees Jeremy in the auditorium and starts kissing him. He doesn't want to. Melissa also demands to know why Abigail got the part instead of her.

The time comes for the performance and Abigail is nowhere to be found, so Melissa will go on instead. When Abigail shows up, Melissa is upset. Abigail plays the part all too well. She is quite angry, as it turns out, because she feels Jeremy has been leading her on when there's nothing there.

Melissa goes to Ms. Cohen's office and says she has something to report. A cop shows up to take her statement. Melissa is upset when Robert shows up, but a parent or guardian is needed for this. Melissa claims Jeremy wanted to kiss her and more, including inappropriate photos. She says she gave in so he would stop hitting her. Asked how long this had been going on, Melissa says it has been going on for a long time, obviously longer than Jeremy has been teaching. Robert tries to comfort her and Melissa demands that he not touch her. It is now clear it was Robert who was abusing her.

Jeremy takes Abigail home again and stays until she is feeling better. He hugs her but there is clearly nothing sexual about it.

At school later, Abigail sees Melissa outside getting ready to go in.