The story starts when Ponyboy Curtis leaves a movie showing area and the Socs gang jumps him. His brother Darry Curtis saves him. He also has another brother, Sodapop Curtis. Ponyboy talks about Socs and Greasers gang and how they are apart. The Socs were the Westside rich kids, and the greasers were of the lowest class. Later, some drunk Socs try to kill Ponyboy and his friend, Johnny Cade, kills Bob Sheldon, a Soc and they go hide in a church. While they are gone the church catches on fire and they save some kids who are trapped inside. Unfortunately, Johnny breaks his back and dies a week later. Dally Winston, his friend, is so sad that Johnny is dead that he robs a store, waves an empty gun and is killed by Ponyboy