In 2015, TifAni "Ani" Fanelli (Mila Kunis), a successful editor at a New York women's magazine, seems to live an enviable life. She is on the verge of marrying her charming and affluent boyfriend, Luke Harrison (Finn Wittrock). While Ani presents an impeccable façade to Luke, beneath this image lies a turbulent soul who revels in simple joys, such as indulging in pizza and eating with her hands – qualities she conceals from him. Her confidante, Nell (Justine Lupe), encourages Ani to confront her troubling past, which involves recurring haunting memories of a traumatic incident.
Professionally, Ani grapples with the stigma of being assigned frivolous pieces while her colleagues are indulged with more substantial topics. With aspirations to write for The New York Times, her boss, Lolo (Jennifer Beals), offers Ani a potential opportunity to elevate her career. However, another door opens when Aaron Wickersham (Dalmar Abuzeid), a documentary filmmaker, approaches Ani to participate in a project focused on the school shooting she survived in her teenage years. This incident marked her life indelibly, and the filmmaker reveals that a former classmate, Dean Barton (Alex Barone), a renowned author advocating for gun control, will also be involved. Yet, haunted by the memories, Ani declines to participate.
As Luke receives a job offer in London, suggesting Ani should pursue her MFA there, this seems to complicate her plans. During a dress fitting, tensions with her critical mother Dina (Connie Britton) arise, only adding to Ani's internal chaos. Meanwhile, Nell insists that Ani join the documentary to expose Dean’s dishonesty, pushing her to question her own credibility. The narrative then shifts to retrospective scenes from 1999, unveiling Ani's journey as she navigates her scholarship at the prestigious Brentley School, where she befriends popular but problematic peers, including Dean and his friends, Liam (Isaac Kragten) and Peyton (Gage Munroe).
As the disturbing truth of Ani’s past is unveiled, it becomes evident that she endured sexual assault by these boys at a party, a trauma she struggles to disclose even to those who wish to help her. The repercussions of this painful experience ripple through her life, including her strained relationship with Luke, and the return of Dean exacerbates her wounds. Despite attempts to move on, she finds herself haunted by memories while fulfilling her responsibilities and facing societal disdain. The pressures mount until she agrees to speak with Dean for the documentary, seeking closure but fearing the impending confrontation.
Unexpectedly, as she prepares for a significantly transformative chapter in her life, past events culminate in a shocking reunion where Dean's earlier denials fade, and he ultimately admits to his wrongdoings. Utilizing this development, Ani finds the courage to articulate her experiences, encouraged by Lolo to recast her narrative without external influence. When her explosive article is on the brink of publication, Ani refrains from following through with her wedding, opting instead to reclaim her life and channel her pain into writing.
With an overwhelming wave of support from other women sharing similar experiences, Ani's journey towards reckoning and healing begins, paving her way toward a promising future at The New York Times while asserting her voice and narrative after years of silence—a poignant testament to resilience.
