The Year Between 2023

As Clemence Miller faces the chaotic fallout of her sophomore year in college, her erratic actions create a growing rift between her and those she loves. The continuous torment she experiences pushes her beleaguered roommate, Eliza, to alert both the college administration and her concerned mother, Sherri, who owns a local craft store. This alarming situation prompts an intervention, ultimately leading to Clemence having to withdraw from her studies and return home. There, she discovers her childhood room has been converted into an office, leaving her relegated to a cold and unwelcoming basement.

Seeking help, Clemence consults a psychiatrist, Dr. Madzen, who diagnoses her with bipolar disorder and prescribes her a strict medication regimen, including lithium, to manage her extreme mood swings. Initially resistant to this new reality, she is gradually encouraged to adhere to her treatment by the unyielding support of her mother.

At home, the reception from her family is mixed. Don, her father and a local schoolteacher, strives to maintain an optimistic outlook, even as her younger siblings express their fears and reservations. Carlin, her sister, is particularly concerned about inheriting her sister’s struggles and dedicates herself to improving her ACT scores in hopes of avoiding a similar path. Meanwhile, her brother, Neil, treads cautiously around Clemence, uncertain of how to cope with the chaotic atmosphere she brings.

Despite her challenging situation, Clemence takes steps to improve her life by attending therapy sessions and finding part-time work at a nearby thrift store. There, she begins to build a hesitant friendship with coworker Beth and manages to stay sober. However, her newfound stability is tested as she reconnects with Ashik, a past party friend. This rekindled relationship threatens to undo the progress she has made and jeopardizes the fragile support system she has slowly constructed.