Alice, a curious junior at a strict Midwestern co-ed Catholic high school, navigates the complexities of her burgeoning sexual feelings during the fall of 2000. Guided by the moral teachings of Father Murphy, who instructs her class that any sexual activity outside of procreation within a heterosexual marriage is a grave sin, she grapples with feelings of guilt and shame instilled in her by both him and her best friend, Laura.
The rumor mill begins to churn when whispers circulate at school that Alice has "tossed the salad" of a classmate named Wade, stemming from a party over the weekend. Alice, bewildered and unaware of the term's meaning, vehemently denies the claims. Yet the gossip reaches Mrs. Veda, resulting in Alice being barred from serving at Mass. In a moment of self-reflection during sacrament reconciliation, she confesses her minor sins to Father Murphy and receives a light penance of twenty prayers, which she diligently completes in the chapel—a futile attempt to silence the echo of condemnation regarding her desires.
Alice and Laura decide to attend the school's "Kirkos" retreat, each with their own motivations; Alice seeks redemption, while Laura desires acceptance from the popular senior, Nina. Upon arriving at the retreat, Laura is thrilled to discover that Nina is a leader, while Alice develops an innocent crush on Chris, another attractive senior retreat leader. Their connection grows as they bond over shared experiences and interests, reminding Alice of her complex feelings.
On the second day of retreat activities, in an attempt to draw closer to Chris, Alice pretends to sustain an injury during a hike. However, when Nina finds Alice's cellphone, she confiscates it, leading to a punishment of chores assigned by Father Murphy. In a moment of curiosity mixed with desperation to understand her situation, Alice sneaks into Father Murphy's office and attempts to seek clarity through an AOL chat room about what "tossing salad" actually entails, but she quickly exits as impending footsteps approach.
On the third day, Father Murphy announces that he has discovered an explicit chat on his computer, leaving the students in a state of tension. As he pressures Alice to confess her supposed misdeeds involving Wade, she struggles against both the rumor and his authority. Confronting Wade about the gossip, she is met with silence rather than accountability, further deepening her isolation.
Later, Alice witnesses an intimate encounter between Nina and another senior, prompting her to confide in Laura, who dismisses Alice’s story and accuses her of deceit. Feeling betrayed, Alice retaliates by framing Wade for the computer incident, but her actions lead to an unintended and shocking discovery: she finds Father Murphy engaged in a compromising act to explicit content on his computer.
After a fleeting romantic encounter with Chris, which leaves him visibly panicked, Alice escapes from the retreat and unexpectedly discovers a local lesbian bar. There, she finds solace and empathy from Gina, the bar owner, who offers profound insights into the complexities of adolescent sexual identity and urges Alice to embrace her curiosity about life beyond the confines of her current environment.
As the retreat comes to an end, Alice forges a new friendship with a shy classmate, while Wade faces the consequences of his earlier actions. During a group sharing session, Alice, taking a stand for honesty, reminds her peers that everyone carries hidden burdens, advocating for understanding and compassion—a reflection of the very teachings she has tried to internalize.
Upon returning to school, Alice engages in a candid conversation with a still-reserved Chris, indicating her desire to take their relationship at a slower pace. When she meets with Father Murphy once more, she gathers the courage to reveal that she had seen a video depicting sexual activity during the retreat. Despite the weight of her confession, they both sidestep discussing its underlying implications. Ultimately, Alice receives a more severe penance of one hundred prayers but chooses to indulge her curiosity instead, opting to explore her desires in private by rewatching a particular scene from Titanic.
