At Caldicott Academy, Emily Knapp is a model student, except when it comes to her weight. Emily has been hospitalized numerous times for her deadly eating disorder and her father, a professor at the school, is ambivalent. Alice, the headmistress, calls a meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Knapp to discuss Emily's health, but they all come up empty handed. Emily, whose interests vary but which all border on obsession, has a peculiar friendship with the science teacher Mr. da Sola. Mr. da Sola harvests a hallucinogen from moths and, one night, the two go on their respective trips on the floor of Emily's room. A few weeks later, Emily gives a presentation to the school about her newest obsession: ants. The talk focuses on ants' stomachs and eating habits, but Emily herself has not eaten in a while. She is hospitalized that week. On the other side of the school, Mr. Knapp and Headmistress Alice engage in a passionate affair. Alice reveals that she's pregnant, and although Mr. Knapp believes that he loves her, he confesses that he won't leave his wife. After the emotional conversation, Mr. Knapp exits Alice's front door. Emily, who observes from afar perched in a tree, sees her father and her headmistress. Both Alice and Mr. Knapp see Emily and thus, the end of their affair. Emily and Alice form a kind of alliance. Alice goes on to marry Mr. da Sola, and Mr. Knapp finds a married woman to have an affair with.