New Waterford Girl

Agnes-Marie 'Mooney' Pottie, a 15-year-old girl, feels like the black sheep of her family. Living in the isolated coastal community of New Waterford, she grows increasingly weary of her mundane life.

Mooney's exceptional academic abilities catch the attention of her English teacher, Cecil Sweeney, who is struggling with depression and alcoholism. Despite his inappropriate crush on her, he believes in her potential and encourages her to pursue an arts scholarship.

Mooney secures a scholarship to a prestigious arts school in New York City, representing a beacon of hope and escape for her. However, her strict, religious parents, Francis and Cookie, refuse to let her go, stifling her dreams.

New neighbors move in from New York City, bringing the spirited Lou into Mooney's life. Lou's unique ability to knock out unfaithful men for a fee gains her notoriety in the devoutly Catholic community.

In her desire to escape her dull existence, Mooney begins kissing various boys to create the illusion of promiscuity. This reckless strategy leads to many boys falsely claiming they have slept with her, complicating her situation.

To further her escape plan, Mooney tells her parents that she is pregnant, hoping they will send her away. However, her deceptive behavior leads to conflicts with the boys, who threaten to reveal her lies.

In a desperate bid to maintain her cover, Mooney persuades Lou to knock out the boys claiming they slept with her. However, they remain standing, confirming the truth of her deception and putting her situation at risk.

Joey confronts Mooney and Lou with an ultimatum: Lou must face New Waterford's boxing champion, or Mooney's supposed promiscuity will be revealed. The threat escalates the tension between the friends and the boys.

In an unexpected turn, Lou fights and triumphs in the boxing match against the champion. While she wins respect from the town, Mooney's troubles intensify as Joey decides to betray her.

Misunderstanding the situation, Mooney’s father, Francis, confronts Cecil, believing that Mooney's pregnancy is tied to their relationship. The confrontation is fraught with tension as anger builds.

Cecil, feeling the weight of the situation, claims paternity of Mooney's child in a moment of desperation. This leads to a kiss that shocks everyone, particularly when Mooney's mother arrives.

Caught in the act, Mooney’s mother reacts violently by crashing into Cecil’s trailer. Her action sends the trailer tumbling off a cliff, symbolizing the chaos engulfing their lives.

Mooney boards a train to Antigonish, Nova Scotia, intending to escape and fake her pregnancy. This journey signifies her desperation to leave behind the tangled web of her life in New Waterford.

As Mooney prepares to leave, she receives a heart-wrenching letter from her mother. This letter reveals her mother's understanding of Mooney's intentions, leading to an emotional moment between them.

Faced with her family's tears, Mooney initially declares her wish to stay. However, her mother insists she continues her journey, leading to a moment of realization about her true aspirations and family ties.