Ponyboy is jumped: As Ponyboy walks home from the movies, he is suddenly attacked by a group of Socs, the wealthier and privileged teenagers from the west side of town. The Socs are looking for revenge after one of their friends was badly beaten in a previous encounter with the Greasers, the group to which Ponyboy belongs.
Johnny kills Bob: During the attack, one of the Socs, named Bob, pulls out a switchblade. In self-defense, Johnny, Ponyboy's friend, takes Bob's switchblade and fatally stabs him. This unintended killing changes the lives of Ponyboy and Johnny drastically.
Ponyboy and Johnny run away: Scared and feeling the heavy burden of guilt in connection with Bob's death, Ponyboy and Johnny decide to run away from home. They take some cash and go to an abandoned church nearby, determined to stay hidden.