Roadracers

Dude tears through the town streets in a reckless chase with Sarge and his partner. He deliberately causes a crash in a game of chicken, then rides away into the night. The incident marks his defiant entry into the night's misadventures and sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Dude and Donna arrive at a club where the volume of loud rock music clashes with Donna's nerves. She complains about the wait and the noise, while Dude tries to charm his way through it. They dance together, and Nixer's sudden appearance adds to the evening's tension.

Dude and Donna collide with Teddy, a rival greaser, in a tense exchange of insults. The two groups agree to a drag race, and Dude flicks his cigarette toward Teddy's girlfriend, setting her hair on fire. Teddy's car crashes as his friends scramble to extinguish the flames, and Teddy swears revenge.

Sarge warns Dude that he could be arrested and accepts the inevitability of charges, signaling a future confrontation. He privately berates Teddy for letting Dude humiliate him and orders him to regain control of the situation. The warning hangs over the rest of the night, fueling the feud.

Teddy confronts Dude and Nixer at J. T.'s diner, hoping to press the matter further. J. T. speaks bluntly to defuse the tension and buys the group some time. The near-brawl ends with cooler heads prevailing, at least for the moment.

Teddy challenges Dude to a street fight, but a reminder about a date with Teddy's girlfriend complicates the plan. Dude sets a date with Donna at the roller rink, creating a clash of priorities. The two plots race toward a collision.

During the confrontation, Dude uses his hair gel to slick Teddy and his friends into an embarrassing crash. The humiliation fuels Teddy's anger and raises the stakes for any future confrontation. The incident marks another blow in their escalating feud.

Dude, Nixer, and Donna go to see Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a film that resonates with their sense of escape and danger. They discuss its themes at J. T.'s diner afterward and consider how chance opportunities might change their lives. The conversation nudges Dude toward the idea of seizing a chance rather than waiting.

Donna urges Dude to pursue music and seize opportunities that could lift him out of town. He grows excited at the possibility of auditioning for a local band, though he does not commit to trying out yet. The idea of escaping the small town lingers in the air.

Teddy confronts Dude again at J. T.'s diner after harassing Donna, and Donna tries to intervene. Sarge breaks up the confrontation, hoping to prevent any public blowout. The feud edges closer to an irreversible breaking point.

Fed up with Teddy's ineffective handling of the situation, Sarge gives Teddy a pistol and orders him to resolve the matter privately tonight. He emphasizes avoiding any murder implications while taking control of the problem. The weight of the order pushes Teddy toward a dangerous plan.

Dude goes to audition for the band but finds they have sold out and now play bland pop music. He leaves in anger, and Teddy wounds him as he flees. The failed audition becomes a personal humiliation that heightens the feud.

Dude returns home to fetch a shotgun and ends up killing Teddy, while sparing Teddy's girlfriend Julie. The act removes Teddy as a threat but leaves the town shaken by the senseless violence. Dude's resolve hardens as he prepares to leave.

Dude says goodbye to Donna and Nixer and prepares to leave town. Sarge learns of his son's death and tries to kill Dude, but Dude shoots out Sarge's tires, causing a fatal crash. He drives away with a sinister smile, leaving the town to absorb what happened.