Pariah

Alike begins to spend time at clubs with her openly lesbian friend Laura, using these nights to explore her identity as a butch lesbian. They present a space for self-expression, including Alike's preference for baggy clothes and male underwear. The club atmosphere marks the early steps of her self-discovery.

At home, Audrey grows suspicious and disapproving of Alike's clothes and Laura's influence, pressing her toward femininity. She pushes Alike to befriend Bina, hoping a traditional church connection will steer her away from Laura. The family tension around Alike's sexuality intensifies the domestic conflict.

Arthur remains more supportive on the surface, but he does not deeply engage with the emotional changes. He cautions Alike to avoid the area around a lesbian bar, stressing safety. He also starts returning home late, which fuels Audrey's anger and strains the household.

Alike begins to develop feelings for Bina, a girl from her church, and she starts spending more time with her than with Laura. This shift pulls her toward a new circle and a different future. Laura's discomfort grows as Alike's attention moves away.

One night after seeing an alternative rock band, Alike and Bina are alone in Bina's room. Bina caresses and kisses Alike; Alike is initially hesitant, having had no prior experience with intimacy. She eventually responds and the two spend the night together. In the morning, Bina says there is no real relationship and that their encounter was playful, asking Alike not to tell anyone.

Heartbroken, Alike leaves Bina's room and returns home, crying for hours. She wrestles with the hurt of being treated as disposable and the ache of realizing Bina's affection wasn't genuine. The episode deepens her resolve to seek a more authentic path.

Audrey and Arthur have an explosive fight about Alike's coming out, and Alike must intervene to defend her own truth. Audrey's disgust erupts in a vicious attack while Arthur tries to restrain her, revealing the family's fracture. Afraid and overwhelmed, Alike flees to Laura's house, where she and Laura begin to reconcile.

In the wake of the confrontation, Alike and Laura reconnect and support each other as friends. Audrey tries to forget that anything happened, contesting the event and leaving the rest of the family unsettled. The household atmosphere remains strained as the consequences linger.

Arthur seeks reconciliation and apologizes to Alike, asking her to come back home and suggesting that 'things will be different' if she does. He speaks with cautious optimism, but Alike asserts she will not return, choosing her own path instead. She tells him she will move forward on her terms.

A few weeks later, Alike decides to move to California to begin college early, signaling a deliberate break from her current life. She clarifies that she is not running away, but choosing a future for herself. The decision marks a bold step toward self-determination.

Before leaving, Alike makes one last attempt to reconcile with her mother, but Audrey remains unable to accept her daughter. Audrey's reply is to offer prayers rather than acceptance, leaving the mother-daughter relationship unresolved. The family prepares for the departure amid lingering tension.

Arthur, Sharonda, and Laura see Alike off as she leaves for California, signaling a support network behind her. The journey west becomes a decisive step toward independence rather than escape. The film ends with Alike reading a self-written poem, echoing her declaration to her father that she is not running but choosing.