A Date with Judy

Carol drops the news that the famous Xavier Cugat will be the guest of honor at their Santa Barbara high school dance that night. She hints at using social manipulation to influence the evening's dynamics. Judy feels a mix of excitement and worry as the plan begins to take shape.

Carol convinces her younger brother Ogden to cancel his dance date with Judy, arguing that women are more drawn to men who ignore them. Oogie agrees, hoping this move will boost his standing with Carol. Judy learns of the cancellation and grows furious at the manipulation.

Dejected by the date loss, Judy becomes infuriated and vows to end her friendship with Carol. The accusation marks the beginning of a chilling rift between the two girls. The social strain of the dance night looms over both families.

Judy visits Pop Scully's drugstore and meets Stephen Andrews, Pop's handsome nephew. Stephen agrees to escort her to the dance as a favor to Pop, setting up a potential new relationship. The encounter introduces a fresh dynamic to the coming evening.

Stephen formally agrees to accompany Judy to the dance, stepping in to fill the gap left by Oogie's cancellation. The arrangement promises a smoother evening and possibly a spark between Judy and Stephen. The social landscape of the dance begins to shift.

At the Santa Barbara high school dance, Oogie spots Judy with Stephen and grows jealous. Stephen, meanwhile, meets Carol and they share a dance, highlighting the evolving triangle behind the scenes. The night becomes a tangled web of attraction and rivalry.

During a dinner arranged by Carol, she tries to engineer a reunion by telling Judy that her wealthy father will give Judy and Oogie a program on his radio station. The plan aims to restore the old bond while advancing Carol's own interests. The deception plants seeds for further misunderstandings.

Oogie attempts to make amends with Judy at the dinner, but a misstep leads to Judy accidentally falling, and she accuses him of pushing her. Stephen reassures Oogie that he would never take Judy away, yet the trust between friends remains rocky. The dinner deepens the rift rather than healing it.

In the wake of the turmoil, Judy tells her father Melvin that she is in love with Stephen and even expresses intent to marry him. The confession escalates parental concerns about Stephen and the loyalty of Judy to her social circle. The family dynamic becomes a focal point of the unfolding drama.

Judy believes her father Melvin is having an affair with rumba instructor Rosita Conchellas. The suspicion fuels suspicion and heightens the tension within the family circle. Stephen's presence and loyalties become increasingly questioned by Judy and those around her.

Judy runs home and gives her mother a beauty makeover to appear more appealing to her father. The makeover signals how far she’s willing to go to influence Melvin's attention and approval. This self-image effort mirrors the larger theme of appearance versus sincerity.

Lucien conducts a background check on Stephen, probing his reliability and intentions. Stephen confronts Lucien about the scrutiny, and Lucien pledges to be more attentive to Oogie and Carol. The parental oversight adds another layer to the family's dynamics.

Oogie visits Judy's house to serenade her, but the moment turns sour when he mentions a fishing trip with his father and implies timing conflicts. The argument underscores the fragility of their reconciliation. The tension leaves their feelings unresolved for the moment.

The next day, Judy and Carol spot Melvin escorting Rosita to his car, confirming Rosita’s presence in the adults’ social circle. The sighting complicates Judy's suspicions and intensifies the romantic entanglements. The revelation nudges the characters toward a confrontation of assumptions.

At Judy and Melvin's anniversary celebration, Judy and Carol wrongly accuse Rosita of infidelity; Rosita clarifies that she was teaching Melvin the rumba as a surprise. They apologize, Judy reconciles with Oogie, and Stephen agrees to resume his romance with Carol in a few years when she is older. The film closes on a note of cautious reparation and matured expectations.