On the Edge of Innocence

Zoe Tyler, a straight-A student, struggles with manic-depressive symptoms and relentlessly refuses her medication. Her mood swings trigger outbursts that strain her relationships with friends and family.

Zoe skips school and hitches a ride to San Francisco to attend a piano concert for her father. The driver tries to undress her during the trip, forcing her to flee the car in fear. She returns home, shaken by the close call.

Back home, Zoe's mother Victoria expresses deep concern over her daughter's absence and reckless behavior. The family grapples with the need for serious care to prevent further outbursts. Doctors warn that without proper treatment, Zoe's condition could worsen.

She runs away to a nearby carnival seeking escape, only to wind up dangling from a Ferris wheel. The precarious moment starkly reveals her fragility and fear. Her mother decides that something must be done, leading to Zoe's commitment to a mental institution.

Jake Walker, a 17-year-old from a privileged background, is unable to respect authority and spends his days dodging the police for misdemeanors. After a concert, he is arrested and the judge recommends a juvenile facility.

David, Jake's father, a respected lawyer, intervenes and commits his son to the same mental hospital for a month to ensure he receives supervision. The move marks a dramatic intrusion of a parent's authority into Jake's rebellious life.

Upon arrival, Zoe feels out of place in the institution but soon befriends Ally Winthrop, a teenager with anorexia who struggles with her charts. The two form a tentative bond as they navigate the ward.

Over time, Zoe begins to open up and grows closer to Jake, who has his own reasons for keeping to the margins. They eventually share a kiss, recognizing a forbidden connection amid the confines of the hospital.

Word of their relationship reaches the hospital authorities, and Councilman George Beaumont forbids any emotional involvement between patients, ordering them to break ties. Dr. Sharon, however, believes that two hurt individuals opening up could aid recovery.

Dr. Sharon arranges a meeting between Zoe and Jake to test her therapeutic idea, but Chief Barbico opposes the approach and fires Dr. Sharon, insisting the teens say goodbye.

Against the orders, Jake threatens Barbico with a knife and leads Zoe, Ally, Luke, and Timothy in a daring escape from the hospital. The breakout plunges the teens into desperate flight.

The group splits up after a chaotic pursuit, and Ally is captured. Zoe, Jake, Luke, and Timothy split up after accidentally shooting a security guard who tried to stop them.

In a diner, Zoe and Jake learn that Timothy was arrested after returning to the crime scene. They realize their options are shrinking as pursuit tightens.

The teens steal a car and head toward Mexico to escape, but Zoe's father betrays them by turning them in to the police. They steal his wallet and press on, trying to stay ahead of the law.

During a dangerous chase, Zoe's driving nearly kills them, but Jake persuades her to step back from the edge. They soon return to the institution, choosing to undergo treatment together and hoping their relationship can endure beyond recovery.