Uglies

David uses nano glue to seal the door to the hovercar bay while Tally uses a power jack to open the door to the elevator shaft. Tally jumps down it, her bungee jacket activating once again to deliver her to safety. She lands on the elevator and hears Specials talking within, almost falling when the elevator activates beneath her. When the Specials leave, she whistles for David. They use the power jack to open doors to a different floor, navigating the hallway beyond. They study an operating theater, where pretties are made into Specials, and then make their way deeper into the base. They reach a room marked long-term detention, but the door opens before they can hide, revealing Dr. Cable. Tally distracts her while David hits her with the power jack, knocking her unconscious. Behind Dr. Cable, Tally sees a beautiful woman whom she recognizes as Shay.

Shay gestures behind her, where the other Smokies are locked away. Shay is cheerful, seeming to have forgotten everything she was angry about. She tells Tally that she was transformed first because of how violent she was, and Tally realizes that Shay lives in New Pretty Town and is drunk. Shay forgives Tally and promises to keep her secret about betraying the Smoke. Tally knows this forgiveness comes at the expense of Shay’s mental and emotional freedom. Shay distracts some other Specials while Tally helps David free the Smokies. They free four of them, finding Maddy alone. Maddy directs the group to use Dr. Cable’s unconscious body for her eye scan, granting them a way of unlocking doors. As they take an elevator to the roof, Maddy organizes their hoverboard escape, breaking the news that Az is dead.

The group makes it to the roof, where Tally sees the hoverboards sailing toward them. David starts using nano glue on the roof hatches while Tally goes after the hoverboards. She is almost intercepted by a team of Specials but rides four hoverboards at once and ascends to her companions. There, Maddy gives her the sleeves she cut off the Smokies’ jumpsuits, saying they contain trackers and must be scattered to aid their escape. Tally and Shay fly away first, dropping the trackers into the river. Tally’s mind races as she realizes they have no plan beyond their rendezvous point. Tally and Shay fly up the rapids. Tally presses Shay about her Smoke memories, trying to get her to realize the operation changed her thoughts. Shay believes Tally loves David, though Tally is unsure. Tally again apologizes for accidentally betraying Smoke, and Shay forgives her, but Tally knows the forgiveness is because of the surgery. Her guilt lingers.

Shay and Tally arrive at the cave acting as their rendezvous point, shortly followed by Croy. Croy tells them about the sky being filled with hoverboarders, and Tally is pleased with how the uglies helped their escape. Maddy and David have gone to the Rusty Ruins; Maddy asked for a night alone to process their grief together. Astrix and Ryde, the remaining Smokies, arrive, and Tally falls into an uncomfortable sleep cuddling Shay. The next morning, Shay complains about the uncomfortable conditions, wanting to return to New Pretty Town. That night, they make their way back to the Rusty Ruins, and Tally is conflicted about wanting Shay’s mind healed, knowing she would face Shay’s wrath afterward. David is waiting for them at the Ruins and shares that they fixed Dr. Cable’s tablet, which they stole from the compound. With the information on it, Maddy thinks she can design a cure to the lesions.

The Smokies hide in the Rusty Ruins, leaving fake clues and trails to distract the Specials. Increasing numbers of uglies trek to the ruins, spurred by the “Smoke lives” symbol from the night of the escape. Tally and the others spread the truth about the surgery at Maddy’s behest, though not all uglies believe it. Maddy devotes herself to discovering the cure, while Shay—though irritated at her continued presence in the ruins—grows compliant about her situation.

After 20 days in the wild, Maddy announces that she has found a cure. Shay, Maddy, Tally, and David meet. Maddy tries once again to explain the surgery’s effects, but Shay continues to disbelieve. When Maddy questions why Shay hasn’t left a place she clearly dislikes, Shay claims she’s still in the wild because she’s waiting for Tally to decide to get the surgery. Shay rejects Maddy’s cure, declaring that Maddy is too certain of her own rightness to see that the surgery makes her happy. Tally is outraged that they won’t give Shay the cure, and Maddy pulls her and David aside. Maddy refuses to give the pills to an unwilling subject. When Tally tries to push the topic, David shares that Az died during an experimental surgery meant to remove his memories. Tally, due to her guilt about Shay and her rage at the city’s forced brain alterations, volunteers to test the cure.

Tally explains that she will go to the city and undergo the operation. She says that David can retrieve her in a few weeks; because she consents to the cure now, she can be the test subject. When David expresses his frustration and Maddy claims Tally will be safe, Tally realizes that Maddy knows about her betrayal. Tally confesses her work as a spy and explains what happened the night she destroyed the locket. Maddy confirms her claims, explaining that pretty Shay told her everything in the cells. David runs away. Maddy instructs Tally to leave that night, and Tally realizes Maddy blames her for Az’s death. Tally agrees to go but vocalizes her belief that David will rescue her.

Tally dictates a letter to her future self, putting her consent in writing and explaining the necessity of the cure. She asks Shay to write it. That night, David is still absent, but Tally and Shay hoverboard to the city. Croy accompanies them to take their board back, but when they reach the city, he asks why Tally betrayed them. Tally struggles to explain herself. As she and Shay walk through the city, Shay excitedly tells her about parties and how popular they will be. Tally mourns David and hopes she can beat the lesions on her own somehow. A warden car stops them, and the man is shocked to find an ugly and pretty together. Tally smiles, introduces herself, and asks to be made pretty.