Sixteen-year-old Poppy Moore (Emma Roberts) has always got
what she wanted and lives a pampered life in her L.A. world. Though she's handed credit cards
with unlimited balances and surrounded by countless hangers on, Poppy can't
escape the mounting frustration she feels with her family situation and she
makes sure everyone knows it. After an over-the-top prank pushes her father
(Aidan Quinn) one step too far, Poppy is shipped off to an England/English
boarding school.
Finding herself in a foreign world of early curfews, stern matrons, and
mandatory lacrosse, the United States|American princess has finally met her
match: a school
of British girls
who won't tolerate her rebellious ways. Under the watchful eye of the school's
headmistress (Natasha Richardson) and surrounded by a new circle of friends
(Josie, Kate, KiKi & Drippy), Poppy begrudgingly realises her bad-girl
behavior will only get her so far. But just because she must grow into a fine
young lady doesn't mean this Wild Child won't be spending every waking hour
shaking up a very proper system. Poppy Moore
starts Abbey Mount as she means to go on-her way,or no
way.
Realising her Dad's not coming back to get her, and having nowhere to fit in,
room-mate Kate tells Poppy she'll have to get herself expelled. Later that
night, Poppy reads a book (Alice In Wonderland - her
punishment for fighting) with a lighter when her room-mates sneak up on her
with torches, and offer their help. They give their ideas on how she can get
expelled, and act on them as a group, and let her take the blame. This brings
the girls closer, but Poppy still wants to leave. When none of the plans to get
Poppy expelled are working the girls realise they will have to go all out and
hit the headmistress closer to home by snogging her son Freddie, which is
completely forbidden by the school. After some flirting, Freddie asks Poppy out
on a date, during which they kiss. Before going out with Freddie, Poppy is so
excited she doesn't log off the computer, and runs off. Harriet takes her revenge
on Poppy by rewriting her emails to best friend Ruby, and sticks one on the
girls' door, suggesting that Poppy is just using them and is faking the
friendship. Harriet also rewrites an email about Freddie, stating Poppy's plan
to kiss him only to get expelled and that she thinks he is a loser.
Coming back from her night out, Poppy is ready to confess she's actually happy,
to find the girls upset. They read the email to her and leave. Upset, Poppy goes to see Freddie but he has found the email
about him also and feels betrayed. Poppy, with no one else to turn to, sneaks
down to the cook's room to use the phone and rings Ruby, who it turns out is sleeping. Even more alone, Poppy starts playing with
her lighter, setting a curtain alight. Hearing footsteps, she quickly puts out
the fire and runs off. A few minutes later, she looks out her window to see a
fire, and wakes Kate and the rest of the school. After the fire is put out,
Freddie looks at the damage and finds her lighter. He gives it back to her,
refusing to listen to what happened. Poppy goes to the headmistress and
confesses. Poppy also asks Mrs. Kingsley to give a letter to Freddie
apologizing and confessing her feelings about everything.
While waiting for the Honour Court
which will decide if she should be expelled, she finds a picture of her Mum and
the lacrosse team. Poppy sits with the picture when Freddie finds her crying.
After a heart to heart, they are friends again. At the Honour Court, Poppy tells her story while
her room-mates find out Poppy was out with Freddie when the email was sent, and
Harriet was the only one around. Going to the court,they
get the whole school to confess they were present at the fire. Harriet then
lets slip about Poppy's lighter being used to start the fire, which only Poppy
and Freddie knew about, and accidentally confesses to restarting the fire after
Poppy successfully put it out. Poppy is innocent. The movie is left off where
Harriet is expelled, and Poppy will remain at Abbey Mount.
