Struck by Lightning

During a meeting of the writer's club, Malerie asks Carson for advice about her writing. He tells her that ideas have to find her, not the other way around, and he outlines his belief in pursuing writing despite obstacles. This moment sets up Carson's drive to become Northwestern's editor and frames his approach to his peers. The scene establishes his aura as a committed writer in the final months of high school.

During a student council meeting run by Claire Matthews, Carson is largely ignored because of his sharp criticisms. The rejection reinforces his isolation within the school’s social hierarchy. This moment foreshadows the friction that will drive later actions to expose secrets and control the magazine’s content.

While picking up prescriptions, Sheryl chats with April Adams, who is pregnant and set to become Carson's future stepmother. The encounter foreshadows tense family dynamics and interconnected relationships that will influence Carson's choices. The scene introduces April as a looming presence in the family’s evolving situation.

Carson visits his grandmother, only to learn that she does not recognize him due to Alzheimer's. The moment underscores the fragility of personal connections and adds emotional weight to Carson's last months. It also reinforces the theme of memory and loss that threads through the story.

Carson finishes the school paper at night and happens upon Nicholas Forbes kissing Scott Thomas. Nicholas begs him not to reveal the kiss, and Carson agrees to keep quiet in exchange for future contributions to the paper through graduation. This incident seeds the blackmail that drives the magazine's formation.

Carson's father Neal and April visit a lawyer to straighten out legal issues. April, unaware of Carson or Sheryl, is shocked to learn Neal is still legally married and has a child. The revelation deepens family tensions and influences Carson's sense of stability.

Carson's guidance counselor urges him to submit to a literary magazine to boost Northwestern prospects. He receives permission from the principal to start one at the school, setting the stage for the central project of the film. The plan marks a turning point from rumor and blackmail to a formal creative venture.

At a school assembly, Carson announces that all entries will be accepted for the new magazine, then discovers the submission box is filled with nothing useful. Malerie begins to suspect that many in the school are hiding embarrassing secrets. The moment deepens the tension around who will contribute and what will be exposed.

Malerie reveals that Claire Matthews slept with Coach Walker, exposing a school scandal. The revelation adds fuel to the growing paranoia that many students hold dangerous secrets. This moment intensifies the atmosphere of fear and manipulation surrounding the magazine project.

The writer's club float is removed from the homecoming parade after the cheerleaders take their assigned car. Carson and Malerie feel humiliated, which hardens their determination to push the magazine and its secrets into the spotlight. The incident underscores the social stakes at the school during Homecoming week.

Carson and Malerie pressure multiple peers — including school paper members, the yearbook president, Vicki, and Emilio — to submit material for the magazine. They frame it as a way to keep secrets safe, leveraging the fear of exposure to compel participation. The strategy expands the magazine’s reach while tightening the social web of secrets.

Neal calls Carson and invites him to dinner, where the conversation reveals that his father has been concealing abandonment. The dinner ends in an argument that deepens Carson's sense of betrayal and fuels his drive to control the narrative around his peers.

Carson learns he has been accepted to Northwestern, but he never confirms his enrollment. Sheryl later reveals she threw away the acceptance letter to protect him from heartbreak, sparing him from facing the possibility that his dreams may not come true. The rejection of his dream becomes a central emotional turning point.

Carson sits down to write his own reflective piece, explaining how he managed to get others to contribute to the literary magazine. He feels a sense of true happiness at last, then steps outside as thunder rumbles, signaling the night’s tragedy to come. The moment blends accomplishment with looming doom.

Carson's body is found three days after being struck by lightning. At the funeral, many, including those who once disliked him, acknowledge the lasting impact he had. Malerie takes over as president of the writers' club, and Sheryl visits her own mother in assisted care, marking a bittersweet close to the story.