Alice Upside Down

The McKinley family relocates to a new home, hoping for a fresh start. They soon meet their new neighbors, Elizabeth and her mother, which opens up a new social circle for Alice. Alice begins to feel the ache of change as she adjusts to the new environment.

On the next day at school, Alice attends with Elizabeth and runs into Patrick, a boy she previously interrupted in a dressing room. He seems notable to her, adding a spark to the new town experience. The dressing room incident is recalled as a private moment from days earlier.

During class assignments, Alice hopes to be in Miss Cole's class but ends up with Mrs. Plotkin, who is strict yet caring in her own way. The change sets the tone for Alice's early struggle to fit in. She begins to see that authority figures may have more depth than she assumed.

Alice auditions for the school play directed by Miss Cole but is seen as tone-deaf and misses the princess lead. Pamela wins the lead, leaving Alice with the role of a frog. The disappointment fuels her feelings of inadequacy but also motivates her to prove herself in small ways.

Pamela's taunts and exclusion push Alice to seek support from her dad and brother, who respond with discouraging remarks. She tells them about the bullying, hoping for encouragement. The lack of reassurance deepens her sense of isolation at school.

Ben opens a new shop, stepping into a busy new chapter for the family. Alice tries to set up her dad with Miss Cole, hoping for a mother figure, but her father gently tells her she is too young for such arrangements. The moment highlights Alice's longing for stable parental connections.

Soon after, Ben begins dating Kelly, which makes Alice worry about the family changing too quickly. She fears losing her father's attention to a new partner. The tension adds to her homesickness and longing for stability.

One night, Alice sneaks downstairs and sees her father kissing Kelly, an event that wounds her deeply. She confronts the fear that her father will replace her mother with someone else. The moment underscores her vulnerability during the transition.

Aunt Sally, the mother's sister, visits with her husband, triggering friction with their father over independence. During the visit, Alice finds a video of her mother and later watches it in private. Her father rebukes her for accessing private family memories.

Back at school, Alice begins to bond with Mrs. Plotkin and discovers that Miss Cole isn't as flawless as she first believed. The teacher dynamic softens as Alice sees kindness beneath strictness. This shift helps her approach school life with more courage.

On the night of the play, Alice accidentally tears down the set, causing disappointment and anger among the cast and Miss Cole. They tell her to leave, but Mrs. Plotkin consoles her and urges resilience. The moment becomes a turning point in her self-belief.

After the performance, apologies are exchanged and relationships begin to heal. Pamela forgives Alice, and Alice starts to form a tentative friendship with her rival. The experience marks a transition toward greater belonging at school.

Patrick asks Alice out, giving her something hopeful to focus on. She has a playful daydream about kissing him, balancing the moment with her sights on friends and family. Meanwhile, Lester is shown playing with his band, the Naked Nomads, hinting at his own dreams outside school.