Ask Me Anything 2014

Katie Kampenfelt, an 18-year-old free spirit, embarks on a journey of self-discovery by taking a year off before entering college. Her guidance counselor, perceptive enough to recognize the importance of emotional expression, suggests that Katie chronicle her thoughts and experiences through a diary or blog. And so, “Undiscovered Gyrl”, her anonymous online persona, comes to life, chronicling her sexual escapades with men like Dan, a 30-something film enthusiast with a girlfriend, and Rory, her teenage boyfriend.

As she navigates the world of romance and intimacy, Katie also finds herself drawn into the orbit of Glen, a charming bookstore employee who becomes her colleague. However, her mother’s disapproval of Glen due to his dubious past ultimately forces Katie to abandon their budding relationship.

Meanwhile, Katie’s life takes an unexpected turn when Dan vanishes without a word, leaving her feeling abandoned and confused. It is only later that she learns about his impending nuptials to Martine, further solidifying the sense of loss and rejection she feels. Her one constant friend, Jade, attempts to offer some much-needed support, inviting Katie out for a night on the town.

As Katie navigates this tumultuous period in her life, she finds solace in a new job as a nanny for Paul, a Tufts alumnus who had previously interviewed her for college admission. This role not only provides financial stability but also comes with a car and the opportunity to care for his newborn child. His wife, Margaret, takes Katie under her wing, sharing the ins and outs of motherhood.

The passage of time brings its own set of challenges as Katie finally manages to reconnect with Dan, albeit briefly. The revelation that he is engaged sends her reeling, leaving her feeling betrayed and heartbroken. In the midst of this emotional turmoil, she discovers that Rory has moved on with Jade, adding insult to injury.

As the year draws to a close, Katie’s world is turned upside down once more when her mother reveals that she too has found love, prompting Katie to seek out Joel, an old friend and former tutor. His own struggles with mental health lead him to take a sabbatical, providing Katie with some much-needed emotional support.

Just as life seems to be returning to a sense of normalcy, tragedy strikes when Affie, her father’s partner, suffers a serious fall and subsequently passes away. Overwhelmed by grief, Katie finds herself drawn to Dan once more, only to be confronted with Martine’s presence, forcing her to make a hasty exit.

As Joel’s eyes scan the note Paul had given Katie, his suspicions are piqued. He interprets it as a blatant overture, which sends him into full-blown protector mode. Drawing from her childhood anecdotes about a neighbor’s unsettling behavior, he surmises that Katie has been victimized in some way. Convinced of this, he urges her to seek professional help.

In the aftermath, Katie’s narrative takes a dark turn, particularly as her pregnancy becomes more pronounced. Joel’s desperation reaches a boiling point when he finds himself hospitalized for attempting to end his own life. As Katie returns to her childhood home after receiving her father’s belongings from Affie, she is overcome with unbridled sobs.

Katie confides in Glenn, her former boss, about the turmoil brewing within her. He reveals the truth behind his registry listing and extends an olive branch - a safe haven where she can start anew and raise her child as her own. Upon returning home, Katie updates her blog, signaling that this marked the beginning of her adult life and the end of her online journal.

As the curtain closes on Katie’s story, we are privy to the revelation that her true identity is Amy Grantham. Just minutes after posting her final entry, she receives a mysterious call from an unknown number - one that will forever change the course of her life. As she steps out into the world, she disappears without a trace.

A coda reveals the authentic versions of those Katie had chronicled online, with some confirming the veracity of her sexual exploits while others refuted their own fictionalized portrayals. It becomes apparent that Amy had embellished or fabricated certain aspects of her story, including her best friend Jade’s reality as a well-off individual rather than a homeless drug addict.

The film concludes with Carol Grantham, Amy’s mother, taking to her daughter’s blog to share the truth and plead with the thousands of readers for any information that might lead them to Amy’s whereabouts.