To the Bone

Ellen, a 20-year-old dealing with anorexia, returns to her father and stepmother after making little progress in an inpatient program. Her father remains distant as Susan takes charge of her treatment. The return sets up a new care path led by Dr. William Beckham.

Susan arranges Ellen to join the patient program run by Dr. William Beckham. Ellen is reluctant at first, feeling pressured to participate. The plan marks a shift from private sessions to a structured residential program.

Ellen moves into the house where six other patients live, including Luke the upbeat ballet dancer. The group becomes a new social world that both supports and challenges her. Luke quickly becomes supportive and takes an interest in Ellen.

During a family therapy session, Beckham notes Ellen's father does not show up. The absence highlights familial tensions and the distance Ellen feels at home. The moment frames the ongoing struggle between her family and her treatment goals.

The session reveals Ellen's backstory: 18 months earlier she lived with her mother who abandoned her to move to Phoenix with a lesbian partner. The revelation connects past family choices to Ellen's current pain and self destructive patterns. It deepens the sense of abandonment she carries into treatment.

The group learns that previous artwork Ellen posted on Tumblr was cited as an influence by a girl who later died by suicide. This knowledge weighs heavily on Ellen and adds pressure to change her behavior. She promises to try to do better, yet the weight of responsibility lingers as she continues to lose weight.

As her time in the house evolves, Ellen changes her name to Eli and forms closer bonds with the other residents. The new identity signals a shift toward reclaiming agency and empathy within the group. She begins to feel less isolated even as her disorder remains a constant presence.

Luke kisses Eli and admits he is starting to fall in love with her. Eli panics at the emotional intimacy and quickly rejects him. The moment exposes the fragility of relationships in a setting built for healing.

Megan reveals that she miscarried her baby after resuming purging at 12 weeks. The revelation unsettles Eli and sends her into a tailspin, threatening her progress. It becomes a catalyst for her decision to leave the house.

Overwhelmed by fear, Eli decides to leave the house. Luke pleads with her, explaining he needs her presence as his own knee injury ends his dancing career. Despite the plea, Eli chooses to walk away in search of different options.

Near death, Eli goes to her mother’s home. Her mother expresses guilt over postpartum depression and suggests bonding through feeding Eli with a bottle while rocking her. The scene blurs care and desperation and pushes Eli toward a life or death choice.

The mother proposes feeding Eli with rice milk from a bottle while rocking her, a curious ritual meant to heal their shared pain. Eli agrees to try, showing a moment of vulnerability and a shift away from self harm. This decision marks a turning point toward rebuilding hope.

After the bottle scene, Eli takes a night walk and hallucinates kissing Luke in a tree. Luke urges her to face her illness and gives her a coal as a symbol of courage, which she swallows as a sign of commitment. The dream acts as a catalyst for the next steps in recovery.

Waking from the dream, Eli chooses to return home and rejoin her stepmother and half sister, seeking renewed strength to continue Beckham's program. The decision confirms her resolve to confront anorexia within a supportive family and treatment context.

Eli embraces her stepmother and half sister and commits to continuing Beckham's patient program. The ending emphasizes ongoing treatment and the enduring support of family as she works toward recovery.