Sam Hayes’ debut feature Pools,”starring Odessa A’zion, is a coming-of-age drama centered around one night of pool hopping. In the sweltering heat of a Chicago summer, Kennedy, an undergrad student, proposed a night of fun to her fellow summer school attendees. The plan—find pools all across their college estate and take a plunge. The plan was risky, but it also guaranteed a temporary relief from the heat. Reed, the college hunk; Blake, the curious medical aspirant; Shane, a lovestruck youngster; and Delaney, the rational and put-together one, agreed to Kennedy’s proposal. Blake was initially hesitant, but he ultimately decided to live his life to the fullest for a night before getting back to aiming for academic brilliance as usual. Kennedy too had a similar plan. Her grades had degraded drastically after a personal loss, and she intended on getting her life back on track after a night of mad adventure.
Spoiler Alert
Why did Kennedy and Delaney lose contact?
Everyone who’d agreed to join Kennedy on her pool-hopping adventure barely knew her, except Delaney. They used to be friends before Kennedy lost her father to a stroke. They gradually drifted apart and just never spoke to each other. But pool hopping helped them to bond again. Delaney was reminded of Kennedy’s spontaneity and the fact that they were complete opposites. Delaney preferred to go by the rules or at least take balanced risks, but Kennedy didn’t care at all. When they arrived at a vacant mansion (its owners nowhere to be found), Kennedy immediately decided to search for the keys. She entered the property, and the rest followed her except Delaney. Staying in the pool while the rest were having fun inside wasn’t also ideal, so Delaney ended up entering the mansion as well. The party got wild, and a few hours into the night, Delaney and Kennedy finally had a heart-to-heart conversation. Kennedy confessed that her grades had fallen drastically because she barely attended her classes. Delaney couldn’t figure out how someone as academically brilliant as Kennedy could be in such a situation. Kennedy explained that she just couldn’t sit through the class; she always got distracted and ended up either writing lyrics or doodling in her notebook. She was surprised to see Delaney’s concerned face, and she didn’t hesitate to remind her that she was the one who’d faded away after her father’s demise. Kennedy had assumed it was because Delaney didn’t want her happy, perfect life to be spoiled by her melancholy. She was supposed to be the fun-loving, adventurous friend, and when she didn’t fit the bill, Delaney chose to discard her. Kennedy never really got over it, because she considered Delaney her close friend, and she could never forget the day when she’d performed one of her songs for her and Delaney had simply walked out of the room to take a phone call. Delaney didn’t get a chance to explain herself, but the next morning she finally told Kennedy the reason why she’d left that day. She admitted that the phone call was fake; she’d hurriedly left in the middle of Kennedy’s performance because she didn’t want anyone to see her get emotional. Delaney was uptight, and she always thought she had to fit an image of perfection, though after the wild, wild night, she’d finally realized how important it was to let loose at times.
Why did Kennedy refuse to leave the house?
After a night of reckless fun, it was time for the students to return to their dorms. But Kennedy wasn’t ready to leave yet. She knew that she would get into trouble if the owners returned, but she just couldn’t get herself to leave the place. Kennedy was aware that the moment she returned, she would have to attend classes and be the perfect student that she believed she no longer was. She was afraid of not meeting the expectations of those around her, but she also knew that if she obeyed the rules, she would never really discover who she was. Kennedy didn’t intend to be one of those adults who end up regretting not living their lives just because they were too scared to take a chance. The mansion became her safe space. She had come to accept the fact that she would have to get back to the grind and just live a predictable life because that was the only ‘right’ way. She wanted to spend one night at the mansion alone—just to experience the joy of freedom, play the piano, and sing to her heart’s content. Her principal, Miss Lewis, showed up at the mansion after Delaney begged her not to expel Kennedy. She’d agreed to give her another chance, and Kennedy promised to show up in college the next day. Miss Lewis reminded Kennedy of her father and how proud he would be if she lived up to his expectations. Kennedy cleaned up the place; she was grateful to have found a spot where she could spend one night of independence before getting forever trapped in the grind.
Why did Kennedy swim to the bottom of the pool?
The air conditioning man, Michael, who’d worked at Dale and Susie Thompson’s house lost his job after he took a plunge in the pool with Susie. Dale wasn’t happy about it, and he’d complained to the young man’s boss. After getting fired, Michael got vengeful, and since he already knew that the couple had decided to temporarily move out of the mansion, he decided to rob their place. He didn’t expect to run into a young woman at the place, so he was taken by surprise. He was also equally mesmerized after listening to Kennedy’s voice. When Kennedy discovered Michael in the mansion, she was petrified. While he tried to establish that she was equally guilty as he was, she begged to differ, explaining how she was only borrowing the space whereas he had every intention of stealing valuables. When he removed the ski mask, Kennedy recognized him—she’d seen him on campus fixing ACs. Michael formally introduced himself, and while at first he thought of leaving, there was something about Kennedy that made him want to stay back a little longer. He suggested they listen to music to cool themselves down; Kennedy didn’t buy into the logic, but they ended up dancing and having a merry time together. Though they barely knew each other, they instantly connected. When they were at the pool together, Kennedy noticed him wearing her father’s watch. She asked him to keep it even though he wanted to return it. Michael saw the sadness in Kennedy that she’d managed to hide away from the world. For the first time, we discover the connection between Kennedy and the pool (apart from the fact that it was a great way to cool oneself in summer and overall class politics)—Kennedy’s father died of a stroke because he was in a pool; he might have survived if that were not the case. So every time Kennedy took a dip in a pool, she hoped to see her father, and that was why she often swam to the bottom of the pool and stayed there longer than one should. She had spent all her life trying to make her father feel proud of her. She was always top of her class, she got a scholarship, and her father knew that she would one day make it big. But now that he was gone, Kennedy didn’t feel purposeful anymore. She no longer felt the drive to study hard, because she’d come to realize that a career in finance was never really her dream. She enjoyed music, but she was afraid that her father would not approve of it. She didn’t even get the chance to find out if he would have loved her evolved self as well or at least give her the permission to chase her dream. Kennedy missed her father, and she felt the need to be exactly the way she was when he left, but it had become practically impossible.
How did Michael help Kennedy?
Michael, who was content being an AC mechanic, had a very clear idea of the life he wanted for himself. He always aimed to be in control of his life, even if it meant not being rich. He liked his blue-collar job, which involved getting his hands dirty and just returning home without any baggage. He knew that most wouldn’t consider what he did enough, but to him it was what brought him joy, and he was happy doing it. So, when Kennedy shared the reason why she would take time to spend more than a minute at the bottom of the pool (she hoped to catch a glimpse of her dad), he explained that she needed to give herself the permission to live. Anyone who cared about her wouldn’t advise her to abandon a safe career to become a singer, because they wouldn’t want her to take a risk that could hurt her, but as a stranger he saw potential in the person she wanted to be, and he hoped she would give herself a chance. Michael told Kennedy something important during the ending of Pools; he reminded her that ‘nothing matters.’ It was terrifying but also freeing. Even if she failed, at least she would be honest with herself and know that she tried her best and life just didn’t work out the way she’d hoped for. Kennedy ended up spending the night singing and playing piano, and Michael cheered her on. The night changed something in her; she felt determined to be honest with herself.
How did Kennedy take control of her life?
The next morning, Kennedy went back to campus and met Miss Lewis. She wanted to transfer to a music major, and she wondered if that was even possible. Unfortunately, since she’d arrived late and missed her deadline, Miss Lewis made it clear that there was no way she could help her out any more since she was no longer a student. But her response didn’t affect Kennedy. Getting kicked out of college was exactly the kind of harsh fresh start that she believed she needed. Her friends were sad to see her leave, but Kennedy was full of hope.
Pools’ ending also suggests that Reed and Delaney ultimately decided to get into a relationship. Delaney never considered Reed an option because she thought he was not the brightest guy in the room, but after finding out that he suffered from brain fog post-concussion, she sympathized with him and realized that he was extremely empathetic and had a very clear idea of where he hoped to see himself in the future. She had also realized that life was more than ticking certain boxes, and she wanted to take a chance with him. In the end, we discover that Michael had started his own AC repair company and he was completely in control of his life, like he’d always hoped to be. One night, when he stopped by at a bar, he heard a familiar voice, and when he followed it, he discovered Kennedy. He was glad to discover that the stranger he’d met at the mansion had considered his advice and was living her life on her own terms. Kennedy admitted that she felt free, and that was the reason behind her happiness. Even if life didn’t turn out the way she hoped for, Kennedy would always know that she tried, and perhaps that was all that she needed to be at peace with herself.
