Now and Forever

Janette comes downstairs ready for the school musical and expects her mother to support her. A newly opened golf club slot tempts her to seize the chance, setting the day’s events in motion. The decision foreshadows her willingness to take initiative on her own.

Mrs Grant calls Mellingham Motors to arrange a lift for Janette. Mike Pritchard arrives to collect her and overhears her begging for moral support. Janette asks him to turn around, but he refuses, signaling a quiet resolve to stand by her.

On the school stage, Janette is initially blocked, unsure how to proceed. She spots Mike in the audience, and his encouragement helps her push past her nerves. She delivers a beautiful performance as the crowd cheers.

On the ride home, Mike offers to drive her back and they begin sharing details about their lives. He explains that he has finished school, works in his dad’s garage, and owns a car he has restored. Janette reveals that her father moved to Ireland and she sees him only twice a year.

Mike invites Janette to a dance at the town hall, but she plans to be home for dinner with her mother, who is out for the evening. She does attend the dance and they have a wonderful time until a creepy man harasses her and Mike defends her, forcing them to leave. He returns her safely to her home and she slips in without being seen.

The next morning, Mrs Grant informs Janette that her father has died of a heart attack. Janette is devastated, yet her mother insists she keep going and not miss school. She struggles through the day, her grief tempered by the shock of the news.

In class, Janette is distracted and chastised by the teacher. She wanders to the school's tower, and Mike follows after spotting her from a distance. She reveals her father’s death in a burst of emotion, and Mike reassures her, and they share a quiet embrace.

Janette and Mike begin seeing each other secretly, with Mike wanting to tell her mother but preferring discretion. To share their happiness, they go to Romeo & Juliet in a nearby town. The outing strengthens their bond despite the secrecy.

At school, the teacher catches Janette writing a love note to Mike. The principal decides there is no need to warn Janette’s mother, allowing the affair to continue under the radar for now. The dating remains hidden from her mother as they navigate their feelings.

After seeing the play, their car breaks down and they still arrive at home early Friday morning. Mrs Grant catches Mike leaving Janette’s room and, sensing trouble, she reacts strongly and orders changes. She announces that Janette will be sent to Toronto the next day.

That night, Mike and Janette sneak off to elope in Scotland, leaving behind the pressures of home. They travel light as they pursue a life together away from their families' scrutiny. The plan heads toward the border while hope mixes with fear.

They stay at a small B and B, where a nosy owner calls the newspaper. Mike knocks the owner out to avoid exposure, and a reporter helps them escape. Their progress is met with varying levels of support from strangers along the way.

With their car lost and belongings gone, they push on on foot toward a bridge to Scotland. Police, press, and their parents converge, insisting they be kept apart, yet they vow to return home if possible. In a final gesture of defiance, Mike carries Janette across the border as if crossing a threshold into a new life.