10 Things I Hate About You

Cameron James, a new student at Padua High School in Seattle, falls head over heels for famous sophomore Bianca Stratford. According to Michael Eckman, Bianca is vapid and conceited, and her overprotective father forbids Bianca and her older sibling, the shrewish Kat, from dating. Kat, a sophomore, has been admitted to Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Still, her parent, Walter, prefers that she remain in the area. Walter, an obstetrician concerned with underage pregnancy, will not encourage his daughters to date until they graduate. Bianca wants to date rich senior Joey Donner. Walter, frustrated by Bianca's determination and Kat's defiance, declares that Bianca will only date if Kat does, even though Kat's antisocial behavior makes this impossible.

When Cameron asks Bianca out, Bianca reminds him of her father's latest rule. She insists that Cameron find someone to date Kat as a pretext for encouraging her to date Joey. Cameron chooses "evil guy" Patrick Verona, but he is scared off by him. Michael helps by persuading Joey to pay Patrick to take Kat out under the guise of allowing Joey to date Bianca. Patrick listens to the terms of the agreement, but Kat rejects his initial advances. Michael and Cameron assist him by interrogating Bianca about Kat's likes and dislikes. Patrick begins to pique Kat's interest with this information. She joins him at a party, allowing Bianca to attend as well, much to Walter's chagrin.

When Kat sees Bianca with Joey at the wedding, she gets angry and reacts by getting drunk. When Patrick attends to her, Kat begins to open up, sharing her desire to form a band. Patrick, though, pulls away when Kat attempts to kiss him, and Kat flees, enraged. Meanwhile, Bianca favors Joey over Cameron, leaving Cameron disappointed. Bianca quickly discovers, though, that Joey is superficial and self-absorbed, and she requests a lift home from Cameron. Cameron expresses his feelings for her as well as his displeasure with the way she has handled him. Bianca answers with a kiss.

Joey proposes that he pay Patrick to drive Kat to the prom so that he can accompany Bianca. Patrick initially declines, but when Joey offers him more money, he changes his mind. Kat is still enraged with Patrick, but he wins her over by serenading her with the marching band. She assists him in escaping custody. They go on a casual date, but Kat becomes paranoid and enraged when Patrick insists on taking her to the prom, which she strongly opposes. Bianca is annoyed that Cameron hasn't invited her to the prom. Hence, she welcomes Joey's invitation, but Walter won't let her go until Kat also attends. Kat tells Bianca that she dated Joey as a freshman and had sex with him after succumbing to peer pressure. Joey dumped her after she regretted it, so she decided to never do it simply because someone else was doing it. Bianca insists on making her own decisions, but Kat agrees to attend the prom with Patrick, and Bianca chooses Cameron over Joey.

All is going swimmingly at the prom when Bianca discovers Joey has plans to have sex with her that night. Enraged that Bianca has chosen Cameron over him, Joey announces his arrangement with Patrick, leaving Kat heartbroken. After punching Cameron, Joey is beaten up by Bianca for injuring her, Kat, and Cameron. Cameron and Bianca exchange another kiss.

Bianca reconciles with Kat the following day and starts dating Cameron. Walter acknowledges Kat's self-sufficiency and grants her permission to attend Sarah Lawrence College. Kat reads aloud a poem titled "10 Things I Hate About You" for an assignment. Students were asked to compose their own version of William Shakespeare's Sonnet 141, showing that she loves Patrick. Patrick presents her with a guitar that he purchased with Joey's money and admits that he has fallen in love with her. Kat forgives him, and the two kiss and reconciles.