Bye Bye Birdie

The country learns that Conrad Birdie, the era's biggest rock and roll star, will be drafted into the army. Albert Peterson, his manager and songwriter, and Rosie Alvarez, Birdie's girlfriend, brace for the impact on their careers and lives. The announcement sets off a national media scramble and spurs a plan for one final publicity stunt before the draft begins.

Rosie suggests selecting a girl from a stack of fan names to kiss Birdie on live television, a stunt designed to boost ratings one last time before the draft. The plan hinges on Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio, whose town's phone lines buzz with the news. The excitement builds around The Telephone Hour and the impending television moment.

Albert and Rosie travel to Penn Station in New York to witness Birdie's departure. Albert confronts a girl about dating an older boy when he returns from war, signaling his own hesitation about the publicity scheme. The scene foreshadows the friction between career ambitions and personal desires.

Conrad arrives amid the media circus as Albert and Rosie feed reporters with false stories to gloss Birdie's past. They try to present a wholesome image of Birdie while concealing the truth, hoping to protect Birdie's appeal. The manipulation underscores the tension between fame and reality.

Hugo Peabody worries that Birdie's arrival will destabilize Kim's relationship, but Kim insists that Conrad means nothing to her. The town's obsession with Birdie's star power heightens the pressure on everyone involved. The couple's nerves reflect the chaotic atmosphere in Sweet Apple.

Rosie remains upset as Albert contemplated leaving the music business for a stable teaching career. He argues that they could have a normal life together if he steps away from show business. The disagreement strains their romance on the eve of the big appearance.

A ceremony awards Birdie a key to the city, but the moment is disrupted as he begins to sing, turning a formal event into a riotous celebration. Reporters and townspeople cheer and chaos erupts around the stage. The scene captures the divide between admiration and pandemonium in Sweet Apple.

Harry MacAfee frets about the disruption at home as Birdie stays with the family. Albert and the MacAfee family prepare for the Ed Sullivan Show appearance, hoping to feature the family on air. The anticipation binds the family together even as tensions simmer just beneath the surface.

During the broadcast, Hugo punches Conrad just before Birdie kisses Kim, creating a televised scandal. Rosie heads back to the MacAfee home and packs her belongings, regretting her complicated relationship with Albert. Kim attempts to slip away to spend time with Birdie, but her plan is thwarted and she remains under her parents' watch.

Back home, the Macafee parents realize their children are missing and race to locate them before trouble escalates. Harry recalls a time when obedience was the norm, highlighting the generational tensions at play. The town pulls together to find the teens before things spin further out of control.

Rosie ends up in Maude's Bar telling the men at the counter that she is single. Albert tries to call and apologize, but Rosie refuses to forgive him at that moment. The distance between them grows as Rosie considers her own future without Albert.

Kim and Conrad hide in the ice house, but Kim leaves when Conrad pressures her into sex. Mae confronts Albert in the MacAfee home and makes it clear that he should stay in music. Albert asserts his independence, declaring a giant step toward his own future.

Conrad is arrested by the police for statutory rape, ending the immediate chaos but leaving the town reeling from the scandal. The coming legal trouble forces the characters to confront the consequences of the publicity stunt. The community begins to reckon with the costs of fame.

Conrad, dressed as Rosie, and Albert wait at a train station for Mae. Mae arrives, and Albert outlines a plan to take a teaching job in Pumpkin Falls, Iowa. He proposes to Rosie, claiming that marriage is required to secure the position, and she happily accepts the idea of a shared future.

Albert and Rosie step toward a new life together, leaving Sweet Apple behind. They celebrate their decision and look forward to a future away from the chaos of fame. The final moment features Rosie delivering a hopeful note in song as they ride toward their future.