Plot

A 17-year-old high-school senior must justify her wedding to a 24-year-old law student to both her parents and her unbalanced ex-boyfriend.

Seventeen-year-old Judy Lewis marries law student Steve Redding in Las Vegas and they return to Los Angeles to inform Judy's parents. Despite Judy's insistence that she loves Steve, Mr. Lewis demands to know if she had to get married, prompting the sensitive Judy to break into tears. After the couple departs, Mrs. Lewis insists that their daughter must seek an annulment, but Mr. Lewis believes they can convince Judy to return home by showing her what she has given up by her impulsive action. Meanwhile, sensing Judy's nervous anticipation of their first night together as husband and wife, Steve takes her to the café where he works part-time. Judy relaxes over the music until she spots her former boyfriend Chuck, who laments to his friends Richie and Gina that Judy has settled for a "square." Steve bristles at Chuck's mocking demeanor, but Judy pleads with him to ignore Chuck and the couple goes back to Steve's one-room apartment. Meanwhile Chuck suggests to Richie that they spread the rumor around their high school that Judy had to marry because she is pregnant. Over the next several days, Judy faces a barrage of teasing and harassment from her schoolmates. Her best friend Patty remains mystified by Judy's abrupt decision to get married, then suggests that Judy should quit school and get a job. Meanwhile, the Lewises decide to tell the couple they will accept the marriage if Judy promises to finish school and go on to college. At the café one evening, Chuck baits Steve by suggesting that he and Judy are still involved and Tony, the manager, is forced to break up the ensuing fight. Over the next few weeks, Judy struggles with trying to balance schoolwork and being a homemaker. Chuck continues to bother Judy at school, taunting her about her marriage and making suggestive comments. One afternoon when Steve mentions that they have never had a honeymoon, Judy asks to visit the park where they spent many dates. At the park, Judy delights in recalling their courtship, but Steve finds her wistfulness childish. Disappointed, Judy returns to the car, and Steve eventually joins her. The tension between the couple is broken as they drive away and suddenly find themselves trailed by Chuck and Gina in Chuck's car. Chuck passes the Reddings and refuses to let their car drive around him, nearly causing them to collide with an oncoming truck. When Judy and Steve skid to a halt by the curb, Chuck drives up to taunt them and Steve challenges him to a fight. After being soundly beaten by Steve, Chuck promises Gina he will get revenge. A few days later, Judy returns home one afternoon to find several pieces of new furniture in the apartment. She telephones her mother, who admits that the Lewises provided the furniture as a wedding gift and confides that Mr. Lewis has also opened a checking account for Judy to draw upon whenever necessary. The new furniture annoys Steve, who demands that Judy return it immediately, but she refuses, prompting the couple to quarrel until Steve departs for work. Later that night, Judy is awakened by a knock the door and unwittingly allows Chuck into the apartment. Initially apologizing for the driving mishap, Chuck then berates Judy for treating him badly and grabs her. Judy resists just as Steve arrives home to see the couple in a partial embrace. Chuck apologizes, but insists that Judy invited him to the apartment. Judy is aghast that Steve believes Chuck and angrily announces she is returning home to her parents. After a few days at home, however, Judy grows restless and telephones Steve at work, but he will not speak to her. Realizing that Judy is serious about returning to Steve, the Lewises make no effort to change her mind. At school, Judy seeks out Chuck and pleads with him to tell Steve the truth about his visit. Chuck agrees, suggesting that the three meet at his father's film studio that night and promises to make arrangements with Steve. Having overheard their conversation, Gina is surprised when she finds Steve working at the café that evening. When she tells Steve that Judy might be in danger and relates the exchange between Judy and Chuck, Steve rushes to the studio. At the deserted, darkened studio, Chuck meets Judy, who is distressed that Steve has not arrived. When Chuck tries to force himself on Judy, she strikes him and escapes, running onto an empty sound stage. Chuck chases her onto a catwalk where Steve finds them. Drawn by Judy's shouts, the studio security guard investigates the sound stage as Steve reaches the catwalk. As Steve closes in on Judy, Chuck grabs her and threatens to throw her off the catwalk, but accidentally stumbles onto a metal equipment elevator. Steve grabs Judy and pulls her to safety as Chuck inadvertently causes the elevator to rise. Despite Chuck's frantic efforts to stop the elevator, the metal cage crashes against wires at the top of the stage, electrocuting him. After the security guard helps Steve and Judy down and makes a report of the tragedy, the couple heads home together.