The film begins in the locker-room fill of teenage girls, including Carrie White (Sissy Spacek). Carrie gets her first period, and after becoming distressed, cries out for help.
Instead of helping, the other girls ridicule and harass her, throwing out tampons, sanitary towels and toilet paper to her.
Teacher Miss Collins (Betty Buckley) rushes in to stop the commotion. White, who appears to be bottling extreme rage, snaps a light bulb. After questioning Carrie, Miss Collins realizes that Carrie is unaware of the concept of menstruation.
Because of this, Miss Collins asks the school principal to excuse Carrie from gym class for a week because of the trauma.
Mr. Morton: We're all sorry about this incident, Cassie.
Carrie [voice breaking, shouts]: It's Carrie!
Morton's ashtray, without reason, flips onto the floor, backwards. Miss Collins jumps back in shock.
Upon her way home, Carrie uses her recently discovered telekinesis to stop a boy from teasing her. While at home, Carrie is tormented by her delusional mother (Piper Laurie), who believes that Carrie received her period due to sinning.
Margaret calls to Carrie after the phone call she received. Carries comes down the stairs . . .
Carrie: Mama? Who was that, that called?
Margaret White: You're a woman now.
Carrie: Why didn't you tell me mama?
Margaret strikes her over the head with the "Woman's Bible" and begins to read a verse.
Margaret White [reading]: And God made Eve from the rib of Adam. And Eve was weak and loosed the raven on the world. And the raven was called sin. Say it, the raven was called sin.
Carrie: Why didn't you tell me, Mama?
Margaret White [hits Carrie in the face]: Say it.
Margaret White [hits her again]: The raven was called sin.
Carrie: No, Mama.
She hits Carrie again.
Carrie: And the raven was called sin!
Margaret White: And the first sin was intercourse. The first sin was intercourse.
Carrie: I didn't sin, Mama.
Margaret White [hits her again]: Say it.
Carrie: I didn't sin, Mama!
Margaret White: The first sin was intercourse. The first sin was intercourse. The first sin was intercourse.
Carrie: And the first sin was intercourse! Mama, I was so scared. I thought I was dying. And the girls, they all laughed at me and threw things at me, Mama.
Margaret White [hits her again]: And Eve was weak, say it!
Carrie: No!
Margaret White: Eve was weak!
Carrie: No!
Margaret White: Eve was weak, say it woman!
Carrie: No!
Margaret White: Say it!
Carrie: Eve was weak, Eve was weak.
Margaret White: And the Lord visited Eve with the curse, and the curse was the curse of blood!
Carrie: You should have told me, Mama! You should have told me!
Margaret White [kneels down and grabs Carrie's hand]: Oh, Lord! Help this sinning woman see the sin of her days and ways. Show her that if she had remained sinless, this curse of blood would never have come on her!
Margaret locks Carrie in a closet and forces her to pray.
Included in her closet shrine is a maquette of Jesus with illuminated eyes.
In class, Tommy Ross (William Katt) has just finished reciting a poem to the students.
Mr. Fromm: Any criticisms? Anybody?
Carrie: It's beautiful.
Mr. Fromm: Carrie White! Beautiful. Beautiful. BEAUTIFUL! Oh, beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain. Is that the kind of beautiful you mean?
The whole class laughs.
Mr. Fromm: Is it, Carrie? I'm afraid, Carrie, this is hardly a criticism.
Tommy Ross [Under his breath]: You suck.
Mr. Fromm: Tommy? Did you say something, Tommy?
Tommy Ross: Who me?
Mr. Fromm: Yes.
Tommy Ross: I said, "Aw shucks."
Miss Collins, still livid about the incident, berates the other girls . . .
Miss Collins [to girls]: Now, my idea for this little trick you pulled was three days' suspension and refusal of your prom tickets.
The girls gasp.
Norma [in disbelief]: What? God!
Miss Collins: That'd get you where you live, wouldn't it? And you deserve it. I don't think any of you have any idea of just how nasty what you did really was. But the office has decided you're to have one week's detention.
The girls sigh with relief.
Miss Collins: Still, there's one little catch. It's to be my detention.
The girls are once again perturbed.
Miss Collins: That's fifty minutes every day starting today in the athletic field. Get the picture?
Chris Hargenson: I'm not coming.
Miss Collins: That's up to you, Chris. That's up to all of you. Punishment for skipping detention is three days' suspension and refusal of your prom tickets. Any other thoughts? Good. Now change up.
The girls proceed begrudgingly.
Chris Hargenson: Where are you going?
Norma: Come on.
Chris Hargenson: I'm not coming.
Norma: You're really not gonna come? You're gonna miss out on the prom?
Chris Hargenson: I'm not coming.
Norma: Well, I'm not gonna miss the prom.
Chris Hargenson: Fuck.
The leader of the clique, Chris Hargensen (Nancy Allen), refuses to participate . . .
Miss Collins: The period's not up, Hargenson.
Chris Hargenson: It is for me.
Miss Collins [to the other girls]: Keep running!
Miss Collins [to Chris]: Well, there are ten minutes left.
Chris Hargenson: Stick 'em up your . . .
Miss Collins slaps her.
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