The movie opens with high school student Patty Bladell, who faces constant bullying for her weight and is derogatorily nicknamed "Fatty Patty." She describes herself as a girl who spends most of her time at home, contrasting her life with that of her peers who are out engaging in typical teenage activities. Patty has a crush on her handsome classmate, Brick Armstrong, but lacks the confidence to ask him out, highlighting her feelings of isolation and insecurity.