Short Term 12

Grace Howard begins her role as the young supervisor of Short Term 12, a facility for troubled teenagers. She works closely with the residents, focusing on their emotional and behavioral needs, and manages her personal life and relationships concurrently. Her dedication sets the foundation for the unfolding events.

Grace discovers she is pregnant and considers having an abortion. She schedules an appointment but keeps her decision to herself initially, feeling conflicted about her options and the impact on her relationship with Mason. The news adds emotional tension to her personal life.

Grace finally tells Mason about her pregnancy, and he is overjoyed by the news. However, she does not reveal her intention to have an abortion, creating a subtle emotional barrier between them. Their relationship begins to reveal underlying strain.

The staff at Short Term 12 begin preparing Marcus for his upcoming departure upon turning 18. Marcus struggles with the emotional burden of leaving the facility and facing the outside world, highlighting the challenges faced by residents aging out of care.

Jayden, a new resident with a history of self-harm, arrives at Short Term 12. She isolates herself, indicating her intention to leave soon, and reacts violently when her father does not pick her up on her birthday. Grace bonds with her, sensing deeper issues.

After a birthday outburst, Jayden sits with Grace in the 'cool-down room' where Grace shows her her own self-harm scars. Jayden leaves the facility abruptly, prompting Grace to follow her to her father's house to find it empty, revealing her troubled background.

Jayden reads Grace a metaphorical story, leading Grace to suspect abuse by her father. Jayden is eventually returned to her father despite Grace's objections, and Grace begins to suspect ongoing abuse and trauma.

Mason proposes to Grace at a party hosted by his foster parents, and she accepts. The next day, Grace learns her father is being released from prison, which causes her great distress, highlighting her unresolved trauma and emotional turmoil.

Grace finds out that Jayden has been taken back by her father overnight. She is angry and conflicted, but her supervisor explains that Jayden denied ongoing abuse. This intensifies Grace's feelings of helplessness.

Marcus attempts to commit suicide following the death of his pet fish, deeply affecting Grace. While at the hospital, she breaks down emotionally, revealing her own struggles and emphasizing the emotional toll of her work.

Grace returns home after Marcus's incident, planning to confront or harm her father while he sleeps, driven by her traumatic past. Jayden intervenes and suggests vandalizing his car instead, signaling her attempt to cope with shared pain.

Grace openly shares her own history of sexual abuse and pregnancy with Jayden. Together, they report her father for physical abuse, marking a pivotal moment for Grace's healing process and her advocacy for Jayden.

Several weeks later, Grace begins seeing a therapist to process her past and current struggles. She visits an ultrasound of her fetus with Mason, symbolizing some hope and acceptance for her future, despite ongoing emotional challenges.

Mason reconnects with Marcus, who is doing well and has started a relationship, showing a positive turn in the lives of the residents. Grace and Mason's relationship remains meaningful as they look forward, despite the difficulties they faced.