Darry, a Greaser who attends a school that is struggling to make ends meet, is cast as Romeo in a play that is being put on by both the Greasers and the Socs schools. Katie, a Soc who attends a wealthy school, is cast as Juliet. Despite the fact that their schools and gangs are rivals, they soon fall in love as they rehearse their lines together. They keep their relationship a secret, but their friends and families eventually find out. The two sides are furious and forbid Darry and Katie from seeing each other. And their time apart takes a toll for the worst.

Darry has his hands full when he needs to take care of both of his little brothers- one down with a nasty case of the flu and the other beat up after a ruthless jumping.