Pretty Smart

To curb her wild behavior after a recent arrest, Daphne “Zig” and her sister Jennifer are sent to the elite Ogilvy Academy in Greece. The move marks the start of their attempt to reform through a strict boarding school environment. The parents hope the school will discipline Zig and straighten out her ways.

Zig openly schemes to get expelled at the earliest opportunity, viewing the academy as a battlefield for her freedom. She tests boundaries and makes reckless choices to provoke a reaction. Her defiance sets the tone for her clashes with the school’s rules.

Two rival cliques emerge within the student body: the compliant Preens and the rebellious Subs. Zig joins the Subs while her twin Jen aligns with the Preens, highlighting the gendered divide and social structure of the school. The factions frame much of the ensuing campus politics.

The academy offers a skewed curriculum focused on etiquette, ballroom dancing, and diction, often taught by a boastfully ineffective Indian instructor. The only decent subject is literature taught by Sara Gentry. The environment underlines the sexism and control that pervades the school.

In a PR stunt gone wrong, the Preens are promised a day trip to Paris after a boys’ prep school event. The trip is revealed to be a cover for Crawley’s drug-smuggling operation. The students are oblivious to the danger, while the administration pursues its illegal goals.

Seeing the injustices, Sara Gentry secretly organizes a field trip around the island for the Subs, offering them a safer and more humane alternative to the cruel curriculum. She acts as a sympathetic mentor amid the growing discontent. This covert act deepens the rift with Crawley.

Crawley discovers Gentry’s field trip plans and fires her from the academy, consolidating his control over the school. The staff vacancy creates tension as the Subs and Preens navigate the power shift. The move fuels the sisters’ courage to challenge Crawley.

Daphne’s birthday is celebrated with a party and a gift of a boombox. Crawley confiscates the device, symbolizing his ongoing control and surveillance. The consequences foreshadow the students’ determination to reclaim their agency.

The Subs sneak into Crawley’s office to retrieve the confiscated boombox and discover surveillance videos showing students engaging in sexual acts. They also uncover evidence of Crawley’s drug trafficking operation. This revelation becomes the catalyst for collective action.

With the truth exposed, both the Preens and Subs band together to bring Crawley’s crimes to light. The solidarity marks a turning point in the campus culture. The two factions set aside differences to demand accountability.

Crawley departs the campus in the wake of the exposure, ending his control over the school. Sara Gentry returns to leadership, stepping in as the new administrator. The school begins to move toward a more just and humane environment.

Seeing improvement under Gentry’s leadership and a more positive atmosphere, Daphne enthusiastically decides to stay at Ogilvy Academy. Her choice signals a potential new era for the school and for her own personal growth. Jen remains in her own clique, hinting at continued sisterly dynamics.