Dungeons and Drama

Riley Morris, a musical-theater-obsessed high school junior who dreams of becoming a Broadway director, lands in serious trouble when she drives her mother Shannon's car without a license to see a touring production of Waitress with her best friend, Hoshiko. As punishment, Riley's divorced parents agree she must spend her evenings for eight weeks working at Sword and Board Games, the game store owned by her father, Joel. Riley resents the store because Joel's decision to open it contributed to her parents' divorce, and she has avoided visiting for five years.

On her first day, Riley mistakenly accuses her classmate Nathan Wheeler of stealing merchandise; he reveals he is an employee and mocks her assumption, establishing immediate antagonism. Joel introduces Riley to the store's regulars, including retirees Fred and Arthur, and to Nathan's Dungeons & Dragons group: Lucas Greenwald, an outgoing classmate; John Turner, a focused gamer whose boyfriend, Jordan, attends the neighboring high school; and Anthony Santos. Riley also meets Sophia, a girl from a rival high school who participates in the group's ongoing D&D game but rarely shows up. Nathan is infatuated with Sophia, though the others warn Riley that Sophia only wants what she cannot have and uses Nathan for free merchandise.

At school, Riley's choir class learns from their new teacher, Miss Sahni, that the administration has cut the spring musical due to declining participation and ticket sales. Riley is devastated; student directing the musical is central to her career aspirations. Her ex-boyfriend, Paul, a condescending actor who dumped her after landing the lead in a community production of The Music Man, approaches with patronizing sympathy. Riley resolves to build a case for reinstating the musical.

When Paul visits the store with his new girlfriend, Lainey Lewis, he pities Riley for being single. Riley impulsively blurts out that she is dating Nathan. She proposes a deal: She will flirt with Nathan in front of Sophia to make Sophia jealous, and in return Nathan will pose as her boyfriend in front of Paul. Nathan is skeptical but agrees, and they settle on a pinch as their signal if either becomes uncomfortable.

Lucas invites Riley to join the D&D game. She creates a human bard character named Elphaba and discovers she loves role-playing, especially singing in character to aid her party. Her first performance, a rendition of "Say My Name" from the musical Beetlejuice, delights the room. Hoshiko later joins the group as well, and Lucas is clearly smitten with her.

The fake relationship takes shape. Nathan confronts Paul in the school cafeteria, wrapping his arm around Riley and acting the devoted boyfriend. As their interactions multiply, Riley's feelings shift. Nathan begins driving Riley to and from the store, and on one evening drive he takes her to the "Holiday House," a rural property covered in absurd decorations, where they share a hilarious encounter with the homeowner. Riley also learns from Nathan that Joel regularly shows photos of her and talks proudly about her theater work to store customers, a revelation that softens her resentment toward Joel.

Nathan buys Riley a set of beautifully colored dice in jewel tones that reflect her personality. Moved by the thoughtfulness, Riley kisses him on the cheek by the store's dice display and rests her head on his shoulder, knowing the gesture has nothing to do with their act. Nathan proposes they act like a couple all the time, calling it "method acting." Riley agrees despite growing confusion about what is real. Joel catches them holding hands and gives them his blessing; neither corrects his assumption. At a Friday D&D session, Nathan whispers intimate compliments to Riley while Sophia watches. Overwhelmed because she cannot distinguish his acting from genuine feeling, Riley pinches him and tells him to pull back. Nathan is hurt and confused.

At school, Miss Sahni agrees to schedule a meeting with administrators but warns Riley she needs a serious presentation demonstrating broad interest. At Lucas's suggestion, Riley organizes a live musical showcase, selecting two songs from Shrek the Musical, casting about 25 students, and directing after-school rehearsals. She lies to her parents, claiming the sessions are choir rehearsals.

Riley's parents let her attend homecoming, and Nathan offers to go as her date. At the dance, they share a slow dance and kiss for the first time. Riley is elated until she spots Paul watching and concludes Nathan only kissed her because Paul was nearby. Paul approaches, confesses he misses her, and tries to kiss her; she rejects him. Shaken, Riley tells Nathan they should end the fake relationship and reveals her parents are lifting her grounding early, meaning she plans to quit the store. Nathan is blindsided, hurt at losing the arrangement and at learning she kept the news for a week. He leaves the dance, telling her she is "a great actress," a remark that stings because Riley's feelings were never an act.

Riley tells Shannon about the secret rehearsals. Shannon is upset about the lying but does not punish her further. She drives Riley to Joel's apartment to deliver the news about quitting. Joel is crushed, and Riley accuses him of never trying hard enough to connect with her. Joel counters that Riley and Shannon built a "fort" that kept him out. They part on painful terms.

On the morning of the administration meeting, Shannon calls Riley out of class: Joel has been rushed to the hospital with chest pains. Riley goes immediately, abandoning the showcase. Tests confirm a heart attack scare, and Joel will need medication and lifestyle changes. In his hospital room, father and daughter reconcile. Joel calls her "luminous" onstage and apologizes for never saying how proud he is. Riley apologizes for her harsh words, and they agree to build a relationship beyond the store.

Joel insists Riley go to the meeting. She arrives after the showcase has begun. In her absence, Nathan rallied everyone: Lucas narrated, John and Jordan provided handmade costumes from their LARPing hobby (live-action role-playing), Hoshiko directed, and the full cast delivered both songs. Nathan also recruited community support: Fred and Arthur volunteer to build sets, Fred's son offers lumber, Lucas's father offers to design the program, and Shannon pledges materials from her design firm. The broad demonstration of student and community interest convinces the administrators to approve the spring musical.

After the meeting, Riley and Nathan are alone. Riley confesses she is "totally crazy" about him. Nathan reveals he had planned to take Sophia to homecoming but called it off the night of the dance after realizing his feelings for Riley were real. He tells her he has been "out of his mind" over her for weeks, since the evening she kissed him on the cheek by the dice display, and that nothing he did was ever truly fake. They kiss and agree to be together for real.

An epilogue set six months later finds the friend group painting sets for the school's production of Legally Blonde, in which Hoshiko stars as Elle Woods. Riley is the student director and has obtained her driver's license. She and Nathan are a couple, Lucas and Hoshiko are still dating, and John now runs the D&D game with Jordan as a full member. Riley reflects on how her impulsive decision to drive to Waitress set off a chain of events that brought her closer to her father, her friends, and the person she loves.