A power-hungry administrator assigns a Saturday detention to five high school pupils from various backgrounds (Paul Gleason).
Rebel John (Judd Nelson), princess Claire (Molly Ringwald), misfit Allison (Ally Sheedy), smart Brian (Anthony Michael Hall), and jock Andrew (Emilio Estevez) make up the diverse gang. Each student gets the opportunity to share his or her experience, causing the others to see them in a new light — and when the day is done, they wonder whether school will ever be the same.