Summary
March 24, 1984. Shermer High School. 5 Students. Nothing in common.
An eight hour saturday detention brings 5 students together. There is a criminal - John Bender, an athlete - Andrew Clark, a brain - Brian Johnson, a basket case - Allison Reynolds, and a princess - Claire Standish. They are seated in the school library by the deputy principal, Richard Vernon, who advises that they don't speak, move, or sleep. They are tasked with producing a 1000 word essay on who they think they are. John Bender ignores the rules and the essay, and harasses the other students for a while. Brian tries his best to behave, Andrew and Claire argue with John, and Allison is silent. The students eventually build up the courage to attempt escape. They run out of the library, collecting marijuana from John's locker. However, the exit is blocked, and so they return to the library. John, however, is compromised and locked in a small storage room by Mr Vernon after an intense confrontation. John manages to escape through the roof and returns to the library. They all smoke marijuana and discuss their lives. They all end their secrecy and most of their hate and offer up their secrets. Allison is a compulsive liar, Andrew hates his dad who always tells him to win, Brian has contemplated suicide, Claire is a virgin, and John suffers from household abuse. They all have bad relationships with their parents, and hope they don't turn into them. Although they are now becoming friends, they face a threat of never speaking to each other once the detention ends. Only Brian and Allison openly admit that they consider themselves friends. However, as the film progresses, they find themselves becoming more and more belonging towards each other, Allison letting Claire give her a make over. By the end of the movie, Allison and Andrew, two very different characters, kiss. As does Claire and John, who gives him one of her diamond earrings. As the detention draws to a close, the other students request for Brian to write the essay that Mr. Vernon requested. Instead of an essay on who they think they are, he writes in objection to the given essay topic, stating that Mr. Vernon has already judged who they are.
Dear Mr. Vernon: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But, we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But, what we found out is that each one of us is:
A brain . . .
And an athlete . . .
And a basket case . . .
A princess . . .
And a criminal.
Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club.
An eight hour saturday detention brings 5 students together. There is a criminal - John Bender, an athlete - Andrew Clark, a brain - Brian Johnson, a basket case - Allison Reynolds, and a princess - Claire Standish. They are seated in the school library by the deputy principal, Richard Vernon, who advises that they don't speak, move, or sleep. They are tasked with producing a 1000 word essay on who they think they are. John Bender ignores the rules and the essay, and harasses the other students for a while. Brian tries his best to behave, Andrew and Claire argue with John, and Allison is silent. The students eventually build up the courage to attempt escape. They run out of the library, collecting marijuana from John's locker. However, the exit is blocked, and so they return to the library. John, however, is compromised and locked in a small storage room by Mr Vernon after an intense confrontation. John manages to escape through the roof and returns to the library. They all smoke marijuana and discuss their lives. They all end their secrecy and most of their hate and offer up their secrets. Allison is a compulsive liar, Andrew hates his dad who always tells him to win, Brian has contemplated suicide, Claire is a virgin, and John suffers from household abuse. They all have bad relationships with their parents, and hope they don't turn into them. Although they are now becoming friends, they face a threat of never speaking to each other once the detention ends. Only Brian and Allison openly admit that they consider themselves friends. However, as the film progresses, they find themselves becoming more and more belonging towards each other, Allison letting Claire give her a make over. By the end of the movie, Allison and Andrew, two very different characters, kiss. As does Claire and John, who gives him one of her diamond earrings. As the detention draws to a close, the other students request for Brian to write the essay that Mr. Vernon requested. Instead of an essay on who they think they are, he writes in objection to the given essay topic, stating that Mr. Vernon has already judged who they are.
Dear Mr. Vernon: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But, we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But, what we found out is that each one of us is:
A brain . . .
And an athlete . . .
And a basket case . . .
A princess . . .
And a criminal.
Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club.