Three O’Clock High

Jerry Mitchell and his sister Brei are home alone while their parents are away on vacation. The quiet morning hints at the incoming school day and Jerry's anxious nature. This opening scene sets the stage for a day defined by a brittle reputation and tense social expectations.

Gossip swirls at Weaver High about Buddy Revell, a new student rumored to be violent and dangerous. Teachers and students debate what trouble he might bring, creating a charged atmosphere. The rumor mill primes the audience for the confrontations to come.

Jerry, the school's budding journalist, is assigned to interview Buddy to welcome the new kid. He heads to the school newspaper office to arrange the piece. When he spots Buddy in the hallway, the encounter starts awkwardly and foreshadows the looming conflict.

In the restroom, Jerry's attempt to introduce himself backfires as Buddy reacts with a short temper and a firm defiance. Buddy reveals a touch phobia and assaults Jerry by slamming him into a wall. He then declares they will fight outside at 3:00 PM and warns that avoiding it will only make things worse.

Jerry tries to dodge the confrontation with reason, appeals to Buddy, and even consults his friends for a peaceful end, but nothing stops Buddy's resolve. He attempts several strategies to avoid the fight, yet the clock continues toward the scheduled hour. The plan to escape the fight collapses under Buddy's unwavering insistence.

Vincent, the best friend and editor, secretly plants a switchblade in Buddy's locker to trigger disciplinary action against him. The scheme adds to the pressure surrounding the showdown by intensifying the school's scrutiny of Buddy. The plan helps push the day toward a dramatic confrontation.

Jerry's mom's car becomes a frantic scene as Brei warns him to skip school, but he learns the switchblade is wedged in the steering wheel and ignition wires are cut. The discovery raises the stakes, making it harder for Jerry to leave or avoid trouble. The car incident demonstrates how far the day has spiraled.

Attempting to flee, Jerry is caught by an overzealous security guard, Duke, who then takes him to the Dean of Discipline, Mr. Dolinski. The dean interrogates Jerry and cautions that he is under suspicion for his involvement with the incident. The mounting scrutiny casts a pall over Jerry's day.

Desperation pushes Jerry to steal cash from the student store, hoping to manipulate the situation or buy himself out of trouble. The act deepens his guilt and further complicates his standing at school. Even as his plan unfolds, the pressure to resolve the fight grows.

Buddy accepts the cash as a backdoor deal to call off the fight, but he taunts Jerry for not truly trying to fight. He proclaims that Jerry is a coward, heightening the emotional stakes of their duel. The moment fuses humiliation with resolve for the looming confrontation.

The clock finally reaches 3:00 PM and the fight erupts before hundreds of students on the school grounds. Principal O’Rourke tries to intervene but Buddy punches him to the ground, revealing his willingness to break rules. Duke and Franny attempt to intervene, but Buddy knocks them aside as the fight intensifies.

Vincent distracts Buddy, causing him to drop his brass knuckles, which Brei recovers and slips to Jerry. The shift in momentum gives Jerry a fighting chance as the confrontation escalates. The knuckles become the crucial instrument that could decide the outcome.

Jerry, though outmatched, lands a decisive blow with the brass knuckles and knocks Buddy out, winning the fight. Police arrive as the crowd erupts, and Buddy vanishes into the chaos. Jerry breathes a sigh of relief as the day finally ends on a note of relief.

The next day, classmates show their support for Jerry, and some begin replacing the missing cash by buying sheets of paper for $1. Buddy returns the money to Jerry, silencing the crowd for a moment. Rumors swell about Jerry dating his crush Karen, making him the center of Weaver High's gossip.