Three Times Manon

Manon is 15. Tormented, one day bulimic, the next anorexic, she lives with her mother who smothers her with a toxic love. During one of her attacks, Manon stabs her mother seriously. Placed for 6 months in an educational centre, she discovers its harshness, its codes, its clans, its violence.

Drugs are found under her bed, but Manon's innocence is proved by the canteen manager, one of the rare people in whom she has confidence. The French teacher captivates the girls with a puppet workshop. Lucas introduces Manon to mechanics. One night, she decides to escape.

After their night-time escapade nearly ends in tragedy, the 3 girls are returned to the centre. Manon has no choice but to cooperate. She finds the words to express doubts and grievances but every confrontation with her mother remains torture. Her new tutor finds her a placement in a garage.

Manon ends up falling for Bruno's gentle ways and kindness. At the same time, she is having a passionate secret affair with Jennifer, struggling with a job that she hates, and having to deal with the hostility of Mr Hervé after denouncing his dodgy dealings. As her old demons begin to rise to the surface again, Bruno suggests that she try to re-establish contact with her mother, but that fails.

Manon meets her father, but without telling him who she really is. The encounter really shakes her up. Monique, who is worried by her daughter's absence, goes looking for her at the garage and learns that she has been sacked.