For Keeps?

As senior year approaches, aspiring journalist Darcy Elliot (Molly RIngwald) embarks on a clandestine weekend getaway with her devoted boyfriend, Stan Bobrucz (Randall Batkinoff), to explore the University of Wisconsin in Madison as a prospective college destination. With a deep-seated desire for intimacy, they seize the moment and indulge in a passionate encounter by the roadside.

Following this pivotal moment, Darcy meets with the student editors on campus, eager to contribute her writing talents to the school newspaper. Although initially met with skepticism regarding the relevance of her hometown-based articles, they are impressed by her unwavering enthusiasm and invite her to submit additional samples.

As the night wears on, the couple sets up camp, raises a glass of wine in a toast, and declares their eternal devotion to one another. However, beneath the surface, Darcy harbors doubts about the long-term viability of their relationship, as Stan's aspirations to study architecture at California Institute of Technology hint at a potential separation.

Two months later, Darcy's world is turned upside down when her aversion to food becomes a physical reality, and she is left grappling with the revelation of her unintended pregnancy. While Stan remains supportive, the couple's families - including Darcy's single mother, Donna Elliot (Miriam Flynn), and the religious Mr. Bobrucz (Kenneth Mars) - find themselves entrenched in a heated debate over whether Darcy should terminate the pregnancy or consider adoption.

As Darcy's college ambitions hang precariously in the balance, she ultimately decides to keep the child and raise it with Stan. Fearing the repercussions of their families' reactions, they wait until Christmas to share the news, only to be met with fury and disdain from Mr. Bobrucz. The ensuing verbal and physical altercation prompts Darcy and Stan to cut off all communication with their families and take a drastic step towards independence.

With a mere $927 between them, they rent a dilapidated studio apartment and exchange vows in an intimate church ceremony. As reality sets in, Stan finds employment as a shoe salesman, while a guidance counselor's suggestion that Darcy drop out of school sparks outrage within her. Ultimately, she decides to enroll in night school, allowing her to balance work at a hamburger stand with her academic pursuits.

As fate would have it, Stan is awarded a coveted scholarship to California Institute of Technology (Caltech), but the university's strict policies dictate no on-campus housing for newlywed freshmen. Rather than broaching the truth with his wife, Darcy, he concocts a convincing cover story, pretending that the offer was rescinded. Little does Stan know, this deception will have far-reaching consequences.

The evening of their senior prom arrives, and in a shocking turn of events, Darcy gives birth to a baby girl in the hospital. As she recovers from childbirth, she's confronted by her mother, Donna, who brings with her an adoption liaison in one final bid to persuade Darcy to surrender the newborn. However, a chance encounter with the child prompts Donna to have a change of heart, but her efforts are hampered by Darcy's crippling postpartum depression. Meanwhile, Stan proves himself to be a devoted father, bestowing upon their daughter the name Theodosia, in honor of his grandmother.

As the days pass, an unsettling presence begins to loom outside their apartment window. One fateful evening, Darcy spots the stalker, Mr. Bobrucz, and instinctively calls 911 for assistance. As she rushes to protect her infant daughter, "Thea," the authorities identify the perpetrator as Stan's estranged acquaintance, who asks permission to meet his grandchild.

As financial woes mount, Darcy and Stan come to a crushing realization: they'll never be able to afford college tuition. When their baby falls ill and hospitalization becomes too costly, Darcy makes the difficult decision to retreat back to her mother's home, a choice that strains their relationship further. Faced with mounting bills, Stan begins to drown his sorrows in drink and sneaks out late at night, leading to an inevitable confrontation with Darcy.

In a pivotal moment of introspection, he encounters his former flame, Michaela (Michelle Downey), who attempts to rekindle their romance by blaming Darcy for crushing his academic ambitions. However, as they reminisce, Stan comes to a profound realization: his love for Darcy has always been stronger than his desire for higher education.

Michaela's biting remarks pierce Darcy's heart, and she discovers that Stan lied about being accepted into Caltech. Devastated, she contacts the university and learns of another applicant who has dropped out, paving the way for her to enroll Stan on their behalf. In a calculated move, Darcy feigns disinterest in their relationship, forces Stan out of their home, and subsequently arranges for an annulment, citing the fact that they were still minors at the time of their marriage ceremony.

Though initially tempted to attend Caltech without Darcy, Stan eventually unravels her scheme and implores her to reconsider their relationship.

As the sun dipped below the horizon on the evening of Darcy's long-awaited night school graduation ceremony, a sense of accomplishment hung in the air like a gentle mist. Amidst the warm glow of congratulatory smiles and beaming pride, Stan dropped a bombshell that would forever alter the trajectory of their lives. He revealed to Darcy that his tireless efforts had yielded a double coup: both she and he had been awarded scholarships to the prestigious University of Wisconsin. The catalyst for this remarkable turn of events was none other than a poignant piece Darcy had penned about the trials of young motherhood, which had caught the eye of the editor of their school newspaper.

As the reality of this new chapter began to sink in, Donna's thoughts turned to her daughter's tumultuous past and the lingering wounds inflicted by her former husband's abandonment. With a mix of concern and wisdom, she urged Darcy to distance herself from Stan and forge ahead on her own terms. However, Darcy's heart had grown too deeply invested to heed her mother's words so readily. Instead, she chose to confront the uncertainty head-on, her mind racing with the weight of her own decisions.

In a stunning about-face, Stan and Darcy reconciled, their love strong enough to overcome any obstacle that dared stand in its way. And as they stood on the cusp of this new beginning, Stan turned to Darcy with a look that spoke volumes and asked the question that would seal their fate: "Will you marry me again?"