In the steel mill town of Everton, high school senior Johnny Rourke enjoys being a daredevil on his motorcycle and has a reputation as a loner. At a deserted observation platform overlooking the industrial town, Johnny routinely performs a dangerous stunt in which he hurls an empty beer can over the rocky ledge using the screeching back tire of his motorcycle. In preparation for career day at Roosevelt High, Johnny writes that his only goal is to leave Everton. Tracey Prescott, a pretty blonde cheerleader, dates Randy Daniels, an ambitious student who is in line for a management job at the steel mill after graduation, but the rebellious Johnny intrigues her. Both Randy and Johnny are star players on the Roosevelt Raiders football team, and during a game, Johnny makes a crucial tackle that allows Randy to score a winning touchdown. In a random drawing, Johnny and Tracey Prescott are paired for the annual Tin-Can-Can dance. On the night of the event, they act indifferently toward each other, until they dance wildly to a pop song. As Randy becomes jealous and tries to pull Tracey away, Johnny confronts his teammate. Coach Phil Barton intervenes before a fight erupts, and Johnny walks out. Tracey follows and rides with him on his motorcycle to the observation platform. Unfamiliar with the site, she is amazed at the view, but the steep drop unnerves her. Johnny says being scared keeps him awake. Tracey claims that, unlike Johnny, she is not interested in leaving town. The next day, Tracey argues with Randy about his jealous behavior at the dance. Meanwhile, Johnny is summoned to the steel mill to pick up his father, John Rourke, Sr., who is drunk on the job again. Peter Daniels, Rourke’s supervisor and Randy’s father, tries to be sympathetic, but warns Johnny that he cannot continue to cover for his father. When asked why he is late to football practice, Johnny defies Coach Barton and is kicked off the team. Arriving home, Johnny is further upset to see his drunken father canoodling with a woman. The two fight after Johnny reminds his father that his wife left because he treated her so poorly. While his father screams at him and throws his belongings outside, Johnny storms out. Meanwhile, Tracey tells her mother that she is weary of being the perfect daughter. When Tracey drives away in the car, Johnny notices and follows on his motorcycle, until she makes a sharp turn and inadvertently causes him to crash. Johnny initially loses his temper, but enjoys teasing Tracey and brings her along as he breaks into the school at night to borrow tools to repair his motorcycle. While there, he looks up his school file and finds a report linking his anti-social behavior to abandonment by his mother. Worried that he is not living up to his “bad-boy” reputation, Johnny plays a rock song on the school loudspeaker system and vandalizes classrooms and offices. Tracey joins in, and the two enjoy a playful fight in the gymnasium. After removing their clothes and jumping into the swimming pool, the two have sex in the basement utility room. Later that night, Johnny visits Tracey at home, knowing that her parents are out of town. She asks him to leave, but he refuses. She admits she “wants” him, and they make love in her parents’ bedroom. During the encounter, Johnny gives her his St. Christopher medal necklace. In the morning, the Prescotts arrive home early and Tracey’s younger brother, David, helps Johnny escape before Tracey’s parents find him. After a school bonfire rally that night, Johnny and Tracey rendezvous at the observation platform. Johnny wants them to leave town together and becomes aggressive when Tracey appears resistant. She runs away, and later Johnny watches as she kisses Randy. Still estranged from his father, Johnny sneaks into the school at night to take a shower and sleep on the basement floor. Tracey appears to have reconciled with Randy, but is still preoccupied with thoughts of Johnny and continues to wear his necklace. Later, Peter Daniels summons Johnny to the steel mill when John Rourke is killed in an industrial accident. Johnny cleans out his father’s locker and finds newspaper clippings of his football achievements. Back at the house, Johnny rummages through other memorabilia his father saved, including photographs of his mother, before setting the items on fire and watching them burn. He leaves as the house is engulfed in flames. Driving inside the school building on his motorcycle, Johnny arrives during career day presentations and pulls Tracey aside. Leading her to an empty classroom, he declares that he must leave town immediately. As he pleads with her to come with him, Randy confronts Johnny. The two fight while Tracey runs to get help. A crowd of students arrives to stop the brawl. When Johnny starts up his motorcycle in the hallway and declares his love to Tracey, she jumps on the back and rides out of town with him.