Five students are brought together in a "special detention class" and are forced to face their greatest struggles: teen pregnancy, drugs, violence, education, careers, family, life.
Mrs. Deakins brings together five students on a Friday afternoon for what she calls her "special detention class." The students are Rochelle "Poochie" Tatum, Acirfa Malik, Langston Parker, Samuel "Tenspeed" Lincoln and Isaiah "Black" Russell.
Once all of the students are in the classroom, Mrs. Deakins asks them three questions. 'Who are you?' 'What do you dream?' and 'What do you fear?' Black, the antagonist of the story, is always on the attack and Poochie is the first victim of his fire. The classroom quickly erupts when Black calls Poochie a 'ho.' When asked to prove himself in his labeling Poochie a 'ho,' Black boasts her name is on the bathroom wall. Mrs. Deakins, attempting anything to reach the students, takes them all for a walk to the boy's bathroom.
In the bathroom, it is true that Poochie name is on the wall. Black takes it even further saying that Poochie is so sexually active because she "wants to get pregnant and don't care who the father is." Poochie faced with this truth leaves the bathroom. Mrs. Deakins talks with Poochie about the baby issue. Trying to steer her away from having a baby, Mrs. Deakins reveals Poochie's talent as an artist. Poochie doesn't see art as a viable career opportunity.
Having to go to the office, the students fend for themselves. Black goes to the library to smoke a joint. Acirfa takes Poochie into the bathroom to talk. Langston and Tenspeed, the school's basketball star, go to the classroom.
In the girls bathroom, Acirfa tries to talk with Poochie. Acirfa, who has a nurturing nature, attempts to convince Poochie that art is something she should try. She tells her that having a baby early would and could separate her from all of her friends, who already have children. Poochie listens, but the conversation is interrupted by Crystal, Langston's girlfriend, who comes in crying. After a brief conversation, Acirfa and Poochie go back to the bathroom.
Black while in the library, gets high, while looking out the window, keeping an eye out for a group of drug dealers who are after him. Mrs. Deakins smelling the odor, catches Black and tries to get him to talk. Black goes back to the classroom, more uptight than before. Mrs. Deakins opening a window notices the dealers on the parking lot.
Back in the classroom, Poochie draws a picture of Tenspeed. Acirfa confronts Langston about Crystal. Langston doesn't say anything. He continues writing. Suddenly, Black rushes into the room,followed by Mrs. Deakins. Mrs. Deakins threatens to have Black suspended, but she says she won't, because she wants him to "stay in school, get an education and suffer." Tenspeed also taunts Black, with his prospects as a potential NBA star. Mrs. Deakins questions him and gets her sneakers out of a desk drawer and takes them to the gym.
In the gym Mrs. Deakins asks Tenspeed what he likes to do outside of basketball. Tenspeed says there is only basketball. On the chalkboard, Mrs. Deakins shows Tenspeed the mathematical probability of Samuel getting into the NBA. Black looking at the number says that Tenspeed's odds "suck." Trying to get him to say something, Mrs. Deakins says if she can make a shot, Tenspeed has to tell her what else he likes besides runnin' ball. She even puts a hundred dollars on the line. And, to make it tougher, she goes to the three-point line. She makes the shot. Tenspeed reveals he likes flowers and plants. As Mrs. Deakins tries to explain horticulture to Tenspeed, Black takes the time to make verbal jabs. Mrs. Deakins tells him to get out, but not before she tells Black why she has them there.
Mrs. Deakins tells them that she had a child who was killed in crossfire. She informs them, especially Black, that she wants to instill in them the potential, her child never was able to realize. Black, maintaining his "tough" exterior, exits the gym. The other students and Mrs.Deakins go back to the classroom, except Tenspeed, who goes to the lavatory.
While walking down the hall, Mrs. Deakins learns why Black is acting out. Because his best friend was killed for robbing drug dealers and Black was most likely with him. Mrs. Deakins guessing the guys on the lot are the dealers, rushes out onto the parking lot.
In the bathroom, Tenspeed and Black talk. Black having taunted Tenspeed all afternoon, tells Tenspeed he knows he's gay. Tenspeed doesn't deny it and says to Black, "I don't have a problem with who I am, you do." Eventually, they stop talking with their mouths and talk with their fists.Tenspeed takes Black down to the floor, whips his ass and says, "Now who's a punk, bitch."
Out on the parking lot, Mrs. Deakins negotiates for Black's life with Chico. Using her past as a leveraging device, she is successful in seeing that Black, "goes home today, alive."
Back in the classroom, the students talk amongst themselves and all of them wonder who Langston is amongst them. Langston shrugs his shoulders. Mrs. Deakins enters and asks Acirfa why she got into a fight earlier in the day. Acirfa reveals that her whole life had been a lie, in that her father was leading a double life and had a family on the other side of town. As Mrs. Deakins consoles Acirfa, Crystal comes to the door. Langston gets up and they talk in the hall.
Langston and Crystal discuss their situation and her being pregnant. Except the problem is that Crystal's father is a preacher. Agreeing to finally step to the plate, Langston and Crystal come to a resolution. After hearing a noise, they both rush to the classroom.
Black stands in the classroom holding a gun. Mrs. Deakins, Tenspeed and Acirfa try to talk to him. Mrs. Deakins even tells him she resolved the situation with Chico. Things escalate when Tenspeed also pulls out a gun. Standoff. Acirfa talks to both of them. Tenspeed decides to put his down first. Black trying to maintain his front, begins to breakdown. Finally, unable to take anymore, Black releases his weapon, wherein we find out it was empty.
In the empty classroom, Langston looks at the questions on the board and answers them. Under'who are you?' he writes Isaiah Russle, a young warrior; under 'what do you dream?' to be loved and free, and under 'what do you fear?' Life.
