The Smashing Bird I Used to Know

Nicki and her parents visit a funfair and ride the merry-go-round. The ride becomes terrifying for Nicki, and when her father reaches over to comfort her, he falls from the moving horses and is crushed by the machinery. The horrifying death scars Nicki and she overhears people blaming her, fueling a lifelong sense of guilt.

In the days and weeks after the accident, Nicki clings to memories of the event and senses that others blame her. The tragedy leaves her withdrawn and overwhelmed by a permanent sense of responsibility for what happened.

Nicki is now a confused teenager living with her widowed mother, plagued by nightmares and an obsession with horses. Their relationship has soured as Anne seeks comfort with younger lovers, leaving Nicki largely to her own devices and skipping school often. She spends time with her boyfriend Peter.

Returning home from a riding lesson, Nicki finds herself alone with Harry, her mother's new boyfriend. He tries to seduce her, and when she resists, he taunts her about the trust fund in his hands. A struggle follows and Nicki stabs him several times, seriously injuring him.

Nicki is sent to a remand home for young women with emotional and behavioural problems. The new environment is strict and unwelcoming, with routines that feel designed to break her down. She must navigate suspicion and rules as she adapts.

Among a large group of delinquent girls, Nicki initially keeps a low profile to avoid being targeted. Bullying and violence are commonplace, but she gradually finds a kindred spirit in Sarah, a fellow inmate who commands fear yet shows vulnerability. The two begin forming a shaky bond amid the harsh surroundings.

As their friendship deepens, Sarah reveals stronger feelings for Nicki and a romantic tension develops between them. Nicki experiences comfort and danger in equal measure as she confronts aspects of herself she has kept hidden. Their connection becomes a core part of Nicki's experience inside the remand home.

Nicki and Sarah decide to abscond from the remand home rather than risk being sent to borstal. They make plans to flee together, hoping to escape their troubled lives for a chance at freedom. The plan is bold but perilous given the guards and the terrain around them.

During the escape attempt, Sarah is apprehended by the staff while Nicki pretends to go along with the plan and slips away. Nicki then makes for Peter's nearby village, where he works as an interior designer, seeking safety and help.

Nicki arrives at Peter's flat, hoping to hide from her pursuers and figure out what to do next. Peter tries to persuade her that returning to the remand home is the saner option, arguing that facing the problems is the only path to a stable future.

Peter argues that going back and facing her problems is the sensible choice, not running away. After considering his words, Nicki begins to realize he might be right and begins to accept the idea of returning to the remand home.

Nicki and Peter set out to return toward the remand home, but a bottleneck at a bridge slows them. An approaching truck causes them to veer off the road and tumble from the bridge to their deaths, ending their attempts to escape and sealing Nicki's fate.