Looking for Mr. Goodbar

In a college setting, graduate student Theresa Dunn starts to experience vivid daydreams about her professor, Martin Engle. These fantasies are sparked during a class where Martin reads her essay, igniting her infatuation and setting the stage for their complicated relationship.

Theresa approaches her new role as Martin's assistant with excitement. During this time, she opens up to him about her difficult upbringing, particularly her battles with polio and the surgeries that followed, which have left her with physical and emotional scars.

Feeling a strong connection, Theresa provocatively expresses her desire for a romantic relationship with Martin. Despite knowing it is morally and legally wrong, their emotional and physical attraction culminates in a passionate encounter in Martin's office.

Returning home, Theresa's family life is revealed. Living with her devout Catholic family, she navigates complex family dynamics, including conversations with her flight attendant sister, Katherine, who shares her own struggles with an unexpected pregnancy.

Theresa participates in a class designed to prepare her for teaching deaf children. After class, she indulges in a fantasy of winning a figure skating medal, further illustrating her longing for success and validation.

After gifting Martin a Christmas present, Theresa is disheartened when he harshly critiques her gesture. His dismissive attitude exacerbates her feelings of loneliness, especially as she spends New Year's Eve alone.

Theresa receives a surprising call from Katherine, who reveals she has quickly married a man she barely knows. This news adds to Theresa's internal turmoil as she grapples with her sister's life choices.

As the semester resumes, Theresa finds herself reprimanded by Martin for overstepping boundaries by calling his home. This tension drives her to seduce him anew, reflecting the push and pull of their fraught relationship.

At a family dinner, Theresa's younger sister, Brigid, announces her second pregnancy, which creates family tensions. This situation is compounded by their father's reminiscing about family members, leading to a confrontation between Theresa and her father.

While helping Martin pack for summer, Theresa is blindsided when he ends their affair. This leaves her to cope with emotions of loss and fantasies about situations where she could reclaim his attention.

After a night out, Theresa visits Katherine's apartment where she engages in casual drug use and watches adult films with her siblings. This escapism highlights her struggles with her identity and family ties.

Following a heated confrontation with her father about her whereabouts, Theresa makes the decision to move into an apartment just below Katherine and her new husband Barney. This reflects her desire for independence amidst family chaos.

Theresa begins her new job teaching deaf children, paving the way for her professional development. Meanwhile, she explores the nightlife, seeking excitement and distraction from her tumultuous emotions.

During her job, Theresa meets James, a welfare officer who comes highly regarded by her family. However, their relationship becomes strained as her tumultuous past with Tony resurfaces.

On New Year's Eve, Theresa's struggles come to a tragic climax when Tony attempts to break into her apartment. The evening spirals into violence as she encounters Gary, leading to her devastating demise, leaving behind questions of connection and addiction.