For Keeps
Young high school couple Darcy Elliot and Stan Bobrucz are one year from graduation, with promising futures ahead of them. But their paths take a drastic turn when Darcy becomes pregnant. Unwilling to go through an abortion or an adoption — despite their parents' pleas — Darcy and Stan decide to sacrifice their college experiences and degrees in order to keep and raise the baby. After a quick marriage, the two realize it won't be as easy as they thought.
The film earned $17.5M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
For Keeps (1988) exhibits carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of John G. Avildsen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 38 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Darcy Elliott is a bright, ambitious high school senior with dreams of attending college and becoming a journalist. She's happy in her relationship with Stan and focused on her future.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Darcy discovers she's pregnant. The positive pregnancy test shatters her carefully planned future and forces her to confront an impossible choice.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Darcy and Stan actively choose to get married and keep the baby, defying their parents' wishes. They commit to building a life together despite being teenagers., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The baby is born. What should be purely joyful is also overwhelming—false victory. They have their family but reality hits: sleepless nights, financial strain, academic struggles. Stakes are now real and permanent., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Darcy and Stan have a devastating fight. Their marriage falls apart—Stan moves out or they separate. The death of their romantic dream; the young love that was supposed to conquer everything has died., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Darcy realizes that real love isn't about fairy tales—it's about choosing commitment despite hardship. She and Stan recognize they need to grow up and fight for their family with realistic expectations., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
For Keeps's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping For Keeps against these established plot points, we can identify how John G. Avildsen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish For Keeps within the comedy genre.
John G. Avildsen's Structural Approach
Among the 10 John G. Avildsen films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. For Keeps represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John G. Avildsen filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more John G. Avildsen analyses, see 8 Seconds, The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Darcy Elliott is a bright, ambitious high school senior with dreams of attending college and becoming a journalist. She's happy in her relationship with Stan and focused on her future.
Theme
Darcy's mother or a teacher discusses the importance of planning and how choices have consequences, foreshadowing the central conflict between youthful romance and adult responsibility.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Darcy and Stan's relationship, their families, school life, and future plans. Darcy is academically driven, Stan is more working-class. Their parents have different expectations.
Disruption
Darcy discovers she's pregnant. The positive pregnancy test shatters her carefully planned future and forces her to confront an impossible choice.
Resistance
Darcy debates what to do—abortion, adoption, or keeping the baby. She tells Stan, they discuss options, face pressure from parents who want them to terminate or give up the baby. Wrestling with the decision.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Darcy and Stan actively choose to get married and keep the baby, defying their parents' wishes. They commit to building a life together despite being teenagers.
Mirror World
Darcy and Stan move into their first apartment together. This new domestic world represents the adult life they've chosen, contrasting with their teenage reality.
Premise
Playing house: Darcy and Stan navigate early marriage and pregnancy. Initial optimism as they set up their home, prepare for the baby, try to balance school and work. The promise of young love conquering all.
Midpoint
The baby is born. What should be purely joyful is also overwhelming—false victory. They have their family but reality hits: sleepless nights, financial strain, academic struggles. Stakes are now real and permanent.
Opposition
The strain intensifies: money problems, exhaustion, jealousy, resentment. Stan works multiple jobs, Darcy struggles with motherhood and lost opportunities. Their relationship deteriorates under pressure. Parents' warnings seem prophetic.
Collapse
Darcy and Stan have a devastating fight. Their marriage falls apart—Stan moves out or they separate. The death of their romantic dream; the young love that was supposed to conquer everything has died.
Crisis
Darcy alone with the baby, facing the possibility that she's lost everything—her future, her partner, her dreams. Dark night of processing whether the choice to keep the baby was right.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Darcy realizes that real love isn't about fairy tales—it's about choosing commitment despite hardship. She and Stan recognize they need to grow up and fight for their family with realistic expectations.
Synthesis
Darcy and Stan reconcile with new maturity. They work together with adjusted dreams—perhaps night school, shared childcare, family support. Building a real life, not a fantasy. Accepting help and planning realistically.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but shows transformation: Darcy with her baby and Stan, no longer naive teenagers playing house but young parents who've chosen responsibility over fantasy, together as a family.