<P> Ponyboy Curtis, a member of a gang called the "Greasers", is leaving a movie theater when groups of "Socs" (short for "Socials", pronounced / ˈsoʊʃɪz / SOH - shiz), the Greasers' rival gang, jump him . His two older brothers--Darry and Sodapop--and several members of their gang rescue him . The next night, Ponyboy and his Greaser friends Dallas "Dally" Winston and Johnny meet Socs, Cherry Valance and Marcia, at a drive - in movie theatre . Ponyboy realizes that Cherry is nothing like the Socs he has met before . </P> <P> Afterward, Two - Bit Matthews, another gang member, Ponyboy, and Johnny walk Cherry and Marcia home . Socs, Bob Sheldon and Randy Adderson see them and think the boys are trying to pick up their girlfriends . Cherry prevents a fight and the girls leave with Bob and Randy willingly . When Ponyboy comes home at two in the morning, Darry becomes angry and in a fit of rage starts to yell at both Soda and Pony . Ponyboy runs away after Darry slaps him, and meets up with Johnny to run away . Ponyboy calms down and wonders if running away would be a good idea . </P> <P> The boys wander into a park in the neighborhood . Bob, Randy, and three other Socs confront them . After exchanges of derogatory remarks, Ponyboy spits at them, prompting the Socs to attempt to drown Ponyboy in a fountain . However, Johnny, anxious and terrified (and having been brutally jumped by Bob on a previous occasion) stabs Bob, killing him . Ponyboy and Johnny, frightened and unaware of what to do because both know those who murder in Oklahoma will be executed on the electric chair, seek Dally's help . Dally gives them money and a loaded gun and tells them to hide in an abandoned church in Windrixville . During their stay, Pony cuts and dyes his hair as a disguise and reads Gone with the Wind to Johnny . He also recites the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost . </P> <P> Dally comes to check on them and he reveals that the tensions between the Greasers and Socs have increased since Bob's death . Johnny decides to turn himself in and Dally agrees to take the boys back home . As they attempt to leave, they notice the church has caught fire and several children are trapped inside . The boys run inside the burning church to save them, but Ponyboy is rendered unconscious by the fumes . At the hospital he discovers that he and Dally are not badly injured, but a piece of the church roof fell on Johnny and broke his back . Sodapop and Darry come to the hospital; Darry breaks down and cries . Ponyboy then realizes that Darry cares about him, and is only hard on Ponyboy because he wants him to have a good future . </P>

Who is in the greasers gang in the outsiders