High school freshman Alex Carson peers through binoculars at his new neighbor, sophomore Sally Clark, as she undresses in front of her bedroom window. Attempting to get a closer look, Alex climbs over her backyard fence, but trips and injures his ankle. Sally runs outside to offer first aid, then realizes that Alex has been spying on her. She is initially outraged, but excuses Alex’s behavior as a symptom of his youth. The next morning, Alex requests a $4,000 loan from his father to start a business using video surveillance cameras. Mr. Carson agrees to the loan, providing Alex pay it back with interest. Later, at St. Benedict High School, Principal Frank White threatens sophomore Nicholas Byers with reform school for distributing photographs of his genitals to female students. Nicholas, an orphan, lives with his older brother, Richard, a former juvenile delinquent and current boyfriend of the principal’s daughter, Marilyn. After school, Alex purchases $4,000 worth of video equipment, and Nicholas assists him in placing one of the cameras outside Sally’s bedroom window. They observe her on a monitor as she readies for a bath, but are frustrated when she fails to appear naked on camera. The boys meet later at an arcade, where they discuss their plan to acquire nude footage of every attractive girl in town. That evening, Alex arranges a date with Sally for Friday night, then brags to Nicholas about his triumph. Nicholas assumes that Sally is unaware of Alex’s inexperience, and advises his friend to seduce her. Concurrently, Sally telephones Marilyn to say that she will be taking Alex on his first date, and that he should expect no more than one kiss, which she will likely have to initiate. The following day, Alex’s elation turns to discouragement when he discovers that star football player Chuck Sugar is his rival for Sally. After school, when Nicholas is caught shoplifting a pornographic magazine, Mr. White takes custody of the boy and drives him to Richard’s apartment. Meanwhile, Alex records a sexual tryst between Richard and Marilyn, which is interrupted by the arrival of Mr. White and Nicholas. Marilyn hides from her father while Richard argues unsuccessfully with the principal, hoping to save his brother from reform school. Alex brings the videotape to school the next day, where it is mistakenly exhibited during an assembly, and Nicholas intervenes for Alex by accepting responsibility. On Friday night, Sally and Alex drive to a wooded area, where Alex proceeds to get intoxicated on whiskey, hoping it will give him the courage to kiss her, but it only makes him ill. Sally drives Alex home and kisses him on the cheek after walking him to his front door. He staggers to his bedroom and gazes longingly at Sally on his video monitor. Alex awakens the next morning to a hangover and Nicholas, who questions him about the previous night. Though Alex admits that the date was a failure, Nicholas recommends trying again that evening. However, Sally is unavailable, due to a commitment to work at the Civetron Costume Party, an annual event for the town’s leading citizens. Nicholas suggests attending the event, and they concoct a plan, with the help of Richard and Marilyn, to solve both of their problems. Alex and Nicholas arrive at the party disguised as a harlequin and a member of the Ku Klux Klan, respectively, and Richard joins the party soon after, escorting a prostitute named Jenny. While Alex and Nicholas install a video camera in one of the bedrooms, Jenny flirts with Mr. White, who is drinking heavily. Jenny creates a ruse to lure White to the bedroom, and they proceed to have intercourse. Sally assists Alex as he records the encounter, and hints that she would like him to accompany her to the homecoming dance, despite rumors that she is going with Chuck Sugar. Alex apologizes for his behavior the previous night, and agrees to take her to the dance. In another room, Nicholas plays pool with Mrs. White, hoping to seduce the principal’s sexually frustrated wife, but the boy shares her frustration when Richard appears, insisting that it is time to leave. Following his tryst with Jenny, the newly invigorated Mr. White makes love to his wife on the pool table. In the morning, Nicholas brings the incriminating videotape to the White home in an attempt to blackmail the principal. However, Mrs. White thanks Nicholas for helping her husband overcome his impotence, and the grateful Mr. White offers him whatever compensation he desires, causing the boy to faint from shock. Days later, as Alex leaves for the homecoming dance, he sees Chuck Sugar parked outside Sally’s house. Mr. Carson offers his son a loaded pistol, but Mrs. Carson discourages violence, explaining that Chuck is rather stupid, and can be easily manipulated through psychology. Alex arrives at Sally’s house and escorts her to the car, but Chuck stands in their way, making two unsuccessful attempts at striking his rival before Alex knocks him to the ground. Sally, impressed by Alex’s courage, kisses him as they drive to the dance.