The Outsiders (1983)

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The Outsiders (1983)

Screenplay Genre: Crime / Drama

Movie Time: 91 minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) is an Oklahoma high school kid caught up in the midst of class warfare between the rival Greasers and Socials (a.k.a. Socs). While at the drive in with a few of his greaser buddies, Ponyboy befriends a couple Soc girls but is confronted by their boyfriends. The girls pacify the situation by agreeing to leave with the Socs. (00:15:58)

2. LOCK IN

Ponyboy and Johnny (Ralph Macchio) are hanging out in a park when the Socs from earlier show up and begin assaulting the boys. Johnny, fearing that they might kill Ponyboy by drowning him in the fountain, attacks the Socs with a knife, killing one of them. (00:26:33)

3. FIRST CULMINATION

While hiding out at an abandoned church, the boys are visited by Dallas (Matt Dillon), who takes them out to eat. Dallas has come with the news that Cherry (Diane Lane), one of the girls, is willing to support them in court. They return to the church to find it ablaze with children inside. The boys bravely decide to burst in and save the children. The boys are praised in the newspapers as heroes. (00:48:15)

4. MAIN CULMINATION
The boys all gather for a battle between the Greasers and the Socs, sparked by the death of the Soc that Johnny killed. The two groups meet in the night and a vicious rumble ensues with the Greasers victorious in the end. (01:11:36)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

After the battle, Ponyboy rushes to the hospital to tell Johnny about their triumph over the Socs, but Johnny is not impressed. He tells Ponyboy to stay golden, a reference to the Robert Frost poem Ponyboy was reading earlier. Devastated by Johnny's death, Dallas loses it, and robs a grocery store. The police catch up with him and shoot him down. (01:22:57)

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