A Sort of Homecoming

Amy Clunie Hartington returns to her Louisiana hometown after years in New York City, answering a request from her high school debate coach, Annie Landry. She arrives in Lafayette and prepares to tell Annie the story of how she first joined the debate squad. The moment anchors the present-day frame of the film and signals that past memories will unfold as she speaks.

In flashback, Amy revisits her senior year and the tangled politics of high school debates. The story highlights the pressures of competitions and the emergence of a complicated partnership with Nick Parker Mack. The episodes illuminate how ambition and rivalry shaped her early path.

Amy and Nick are paired as partners, a debut that tests their trust and talent. Nick's turbulent home life, including an abusive father, adds weight to their performances and decisions. The bond they form during competitions becomes central to the film’s emotional arc.

On the way to the debate camp, Amy and Nick deliver money to Amy’s older sister and pick up Rosa Conti from Stuyvesant High School in Brooklyn for help. Rosa's arrival introduces a sharper voice and new energy into the team. The road trip foreshadows the shifting dynamics at the camp.

Rosa's presence brings a fresh voice to the camp and spurs Amy to reconsider leaving. After Rosa's speech, she persuades Amy and the others to stay and continue training. The camp becomes a crucible where alliances and ambitions intensify.

Under the pretense of research, Nick and Amy slip away for a night in New Orleans. They share personal histories, including a painful memory from Nick's family, and deepen their connection. The outing complicates their commitments and stakes at home.

Upon returning home, Amy and Nick confront the brutal tirade of Nick's father. The confrontation underscores the personal stakes behind their debate performances. The family crisis reverberates through their ambitions and decisions.

Dylan arrives at the camp and secretly courts Rosa on the building’s roof, while Susan Levine becomes involved in Tarrity's project. Rosa's presence continues to stir dynamic tensions among the group. The intersecting stories push Amy toward broader ambitions.

As Tarrity’s piece nears broadcast, Susan secures Amy for interviews about the structure of high school debate. The project tightens the schedule and raises the stakes for what gets told publicly. The group moves toward a televised moment that could redefine their reputations.

Back at home, Nick’s parents show up with the permission slip, and his father destroys it with a cigarette lighter. Nick is compelled to flee in embarrassment as the moment threatens to derail the story. The incident crystallizes the pressure bearing down on the students.

Amy discovers a sealed envelope containing her adoption information and wrestles with whether to return to her cousin’s wedding. She seeks counsel from Annie, who offers a memory of personal upheaval that helps her persevere. The revelation heightens the stakes for Amy’s choices about family and future.

In Brooklyn, Rosa invites Amy and Nick to stay at her family’s apartment. Dylan secretly courts Rosa on the roof, while Annie calls urging Amy to bring Nick back. Amy presses on and the pair share a spontaneous kiss that cements their evolving relationship.

Back in Lafayette, the weight of expectations bears down as the school contemplates action against Amy and Annie for not bringing Nick home. Amy weighs whether to return to her parents or chart a new path. The narrative narrows toward a decisive moment about her future.

The film cuts to the present as Amy attends Annie’s funeral with former students, signaling a lasting bond between mentor and mentees. A postcard from India, signed by Nick to Annie, hints at an unresolved fondness between them. The moment reframes Amy’s path forward.

Later, Amy returns to her old school as a new debate coach, ready to pass on what she learned to a new generation. She carries the memories of her journey into a leadership role that shapes future debaters. The film closes on a note of continuity and renewal.