Yes, God, Yes 2020

As the autumn of 2000 brings a crisp chill to the Midwestern landscape, 17-year-old Alice (Natalia Dyer) navigates the treacherous terrain of adolescence within the confines of a strict co-ed Catholic high school. Under the watchful eye of Father Murphy (Timothy Simons), who dispenses moral guidance with unyielding fervor, Alice’s Morality class becomes a battleground where her burgeoning sexual awareness is forced to confront the harsh realities of a dogmatic creed that proscribes any sexual activity outside of procreation within a traditional heterosexual marriage as a sinful transgression punishable by eternal damnation. The weight of this burden is exacerbated by the censure she receives from both Father Murphy and her best friend, Laura (Francesca Reale), who inadvertently contribute to Alice’s shame and self-doubt.

The following Monday, whispers of scandal spread like wildfire through the school’s corridors, with rumors circulating that Alice had engaged in a compromising encounter with Wade (Parker Wierling) at Laura’s party over the weekend. Denying any wrongdoing, Alice confesses her ignorance regarding the phrase “to toss the salad.” This revelation reaches the ears of Mrs. Veda (Donna Lynne Champlin), who subsequently bars Alice from serving at Mass. Later that day, during the sacrament of reconciliation, Alice approaches Father Murphy and unburdens herself of her venial sins, receiving a relatively light penance of twenty prayers to recite in the school chapel. As she fervently fulfills this obligation, the words of caution and admonition imparted by Father Murphy and Mrs. Veda continue to reverberate within her mind.

Seeking to rechart her moral course, Alice decides to attend the school’s upcoming “Kirkos” retreat alongside Laura, who is driven by a desire to earn Nina (Alisha Boe)‘s acceptance as a popular senior. Upon their arrival at the retreat campgrounds, they find themselves amidst a sea of like-minded classmates, with Laura thrilled to discover that Nina is one of the leaders guiding the proceedings. Meanwhile, Alice finds herself drawn to Chris (Wolfgang Novogratz), a charismatic and enthusiastic senior who assumes leadership of her group. As the two begin to bond over shared experiences and common interests, Alice’s phone becomes an unwitting accomplice in her self-discovery when she stumbles upon its vibrating feature while secretly playing with it that night. Although she initially finds pleasure in this newfound freedom, her gaze soon falls upon the crucifix adorning her room, prompting her to halt her exploration and reflect on the moral implications of her actions.

As the second day of the retreat unfolded, Alice engineered an artful injury during a hike, cleverly positioning herself closer to Chris. The ruse was quickly discovered by Nina, who confiscated Alice’s phone, remembering that it was supposed to be surrendered upon entry. As punishment, Father Murphy assigned Alice to cleaning duties around the retreat house, a task she reluctantly took on. With her phone out of commission, Alice found herself alone in Father Murphy’s office and seized the opportunity to log onto an AOL chat room to uncover the mystery surrounding “tossing salad.” However, before she could delve deeper, the sound of approaching footsteps sent her scrambling to shut down the computer and make a hasty exit. Her encounter with Nina that followed only served to further guilt-trip Alice over her rumored sexual encounter with Wade, another instance of the rumor’s insidious tentacles wrapping around her, even as she was supposed to be on spiritual retreat.

On the third day, Father Murphy dropped a bombshell, announcing his discovery of an explicit chat on his computer. Though no one claimed responsibility for the lewd exchange, Alice couldn’t shake off the feeling that she was being watched. Later, Father Murphy confronted Alice about her supposed sexual temptations with Wade, refusing to believe her denials. In response, Alice decided to confront Wade directly, only to be met with his complicit silence. As the tension mounted, Alice found herself on cleaning duty once more, where she stumbled upon a shocking revelation: Nina was engaging in a romantic tryst with another senior leader in the woods.

Alice confided in Laura about her discovery, but her friend refused to believe her, instead accusing Alice of breaking into Father Murphy’s office and labeling her a “pervy psycho.” Crushed by Laura’s betrayal, Alice turned to Wade, framing him for the earlier break-in. As she hid to make her escape, she caught Father Murphy in the act of masturbating to a pornographic video saved on his computer.

The events culminated in a poignant encounter with Chris outside, where Alice attempted to kiss him but was rebuffed. That night, seeking solace and answers, Alice fled the campgrounds and stumbled upon a lesbian bar, where she found refuge in Gina’s (Susan Blackwell) warm embrace. The two commiserated about how the fear of damnation can warp an adolescent’s development, with Gina offering words of wisdom and counsel. As they parted ways, Gina gave Alice a ride back to the retreat, encouraging her to explore colleges on both coasts and finally putting her curiosity about “tossing salad” to rest (a euphemism for licking someone’s anal opening).

As the retreat’s final day unfolds, an unexpected bond forms between Alice and a fellow classmate, their shared awkwardness forging a connection that transcends social boundaries. Meanwhile, Father Murphy pulls Wade aside, leaving Laura to make amends with Alice, their earlier tension dissipating as they find common ground. The group dynamics shift during the afternoon’s whole-group sharing session, where Alice delivers a poignant reminder: everyone is hiding secrets, and it’s only through honesty and respect that we can truly connect - just as Jesus intended.

Back at school, Alice takes Chris aside, reassuring him that their friendship can flourish without romantic undertones. Meanwhile, she returns to Father Murphy, her newfound confidence allowing her to confront the elephant in the room: the explicit chat incident that has cast a shadow over Wade’s behavior. With an air of boldness, Alice reveals that during the retreat, she stumbled upon a video featuring consensual sexual activity - a revelation that, although shared between herself and Father Murphy, had gone unspoken.

The consequences of her confession are swift and severe: Father Murphy assigns a penance of one hundred prayers, but instead of meekly accepting this punishment, Alice takes matters into her own hands. She returns home, where she re-watches the sex scene from Titanic, allowing herself to release pent-up emotions in a private moment of solace and self-care.