The Trouble with Angels

Mary Clancy, a rebellious teenager, is sent to St. Francis Academy in 1960s Pennsylvania. On the train to the school, she meets Rachel Devery, and the two quickly become friends. They begin challenging the school's rules and routines from the outset.

Mary and Rachel stage unauthorized tours of the cloister and tamper with food in the dining room. Their antics land them on dishwashing duty, bringing them into closer contact with the nuns. The pranks set a rebellious tone for the rest of the year.

Rachel writes to her former principal expressing dissatisfaction with the school's discipline and curriculum. His visit prompts a discussion with Reverend Mother about educational reform, though no concrete changes are made. The encounter reveals tension between tradition and progress within the convent.

Mary learns that Sister Ursula once protected Jewish children from Nazis during World War II, challenging Mary’s assumptions about the nuns. This revelation deepens her curiosity about the convent’s hidden histories. The discovery begins to reshape her view of the school and its residents.

Mary notices Reverend Mother performing quiet acts of kindness, such as feeding birds at dawn. These small gestures reveal a compassionate side of leadership at St. Francis. The moment prompts Mary to reexamine the nuns' outward discipline.

The school hires a sophisticated dance instructor to add polish to student activities, providing a new source of levity. A comedic cement casting experiment goes awry, eliciting laughs and reminding the girls of their ongoing mischief. These episodes balance humor with growing maturity.

Mary makes a trip to a retirement home and is confronted with aging and mortality. The experience unsettles her and prompts a more serious reflection on life beyond adolescence. The moment deepens her emotional arc and questions about faith.

A reckless smoking incident leads to a campus-wide fire alarm and panic. Reverend Mother weighs expulsion but ultimately relents after meeting with Mary's emotionally distant guardian. The incident tests the school's tolerance and the girls' bond.

In their final year, Mary and Rachel join the school band and work to win a regional competition to raise funds for the school. Reverend Mother initially hesitates but eventually rents uniforms to support their efforts. Their victory signals a shift in the students' relationship with the convent.

During the Christmas break, Mary stays at the academy and attends the midnight mass with the sisters. A private conversation with Reverend Mother reveals Mary’s growing appreciation for the sisters' spiritual commitment. The scene marks a turning point in Mary’s understanding of vocation.

The sisters are shocked by the sudden death of Sister Ligouri, and Rachel accuses Reverend Mother of emotional detachment. Mary witnesses Reverend Mother's private grieving in the chapel. She also learns that Sister Constance plans to leave to teach at a leper colony, underscoring the sisters' dedication.

At graduation, Reverend Mother announces which students will remain to begin novitiate. Mary is chosen to stay, while Rachel reacts with surprise but eventually accepts. In their final exchange, Mary teases that Rachel may join her, and the Reverend Mother dryly says that if Rachel returns, she quit.