Stateside

Dori Lawrence, a Hollywood actress and singer, struggles with undiagnosed schizophrenia that destabilizes her career. Her symptoms flare after a concert goes wrong, making it clear she needs help. As a consequence, she is sent to seek professional treatment.

Gregory, Mark's brother, has a secret affair with Sue Dubois. In an attempt to punish her and expose the affair, Gregory and a friend confront Sue and take her back to her mother. During the confrontation, a car crash occurs, injuring Sue and Father Concoff.

Sue's mother presses charges against Mark, but a deal is struck: Mark will serve in the Marine Corps instead of jail time. The choice redirects his future toward military life. It sets up a long period apart from his previous life.

Mark departs for recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. Staff Sergeant Skeer takes an interest in him as he uses the Corps to escape a past mistake. He endures the intense training and earns the title of Marine.

After completing boot camp, Mark returns home with his new identity as a Marine. He starts cutting ties with old friends and becomes closer to two people: Sue, now in a halfway house, and Dori, who is her roommate. This marks a shift from his previous circle.

Mark visits Father Concoff to apologize for his role in the incident. The priest accepts the gesture but remains angry about the damage caused. It shows Mark's attempt to make amends.

Mark and Dori arrange to go to a dance together, signaling the start of their relationship. Dori cannot attend the event for reasons tied to her condition, so Mark leaves a thoughtful gift instead. The moment hints at a deeper connection between them.

Mark and Dori finally go out on a date and share a night together. Mark loses his virginity to Dori, deepening their bond. They navigate love while facing the challenges posed by Dori's illness.

Dori's schizophrenia worsens, causing her to lose touch with reality. Despite pressure from friends and family to seek treatment, Mark clings to the relationship and resists separation. The couple's stability becomes increasingly fragile.

Concerned friends and a formal intervention push them apart to ensure Dori gets needed help. Mark's opposition to treatment becomes a central point of conflict. The intervention marks a turning point in their relationship.

Mark is deployed overseas and is wounded in the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut in 1983. He returns home with an honorable discharge. The conflict ends his field service.

Two years after Beirut, Dori contacts Mark in a hospital where he is recuperating. They reconnect and begin to plan a future together, including marriage and a fresh start. They look toward a new life as a couple.