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A young boy in a small town finds that a cherished marble represents much more than a simple possession – it embodies his self-esteem. When a school bully steals the valued keepsake, the boy must find the courage to confront him and retrieve it. Through this experience, he learns a valuable lesson about inner strength and the importance of standing up for what's right, realizing that true worth isn't found in material objects.

A young boy in a small town finds that a cherished marble represents much more than a simple possession – it embodies his self-esteem. When a school bully steals the valued keepsake, the boy must find the courage to confront him and retrieve it. Through this experience, he learns a valuable lesson about inner strength and the importance of standing up for what's right, realizing that true worth isn't found in material objects.

Does For Keeps? have end credit scenes?

No!

For Keeps? does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of For Keeps?

Explore the complete cast of For Keeps?, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for For Keeps?

See how For Keeps? is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where For Keeps? stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

41

Metascore

tbd

User Score

IMDb

5.9 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

65

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate For Keeps? Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of For Keeps? with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


For Keeps? Quiz: Test your knowledge on the romantic and dramatic journey of Darcy and Stan in 'For Keeps?'

What is Darcy's aspiration?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for For Keeps?

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Read the complete plot summary of For Keeps?, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Shortly before embarking on her senior year of high school, Darcy Elliot (Molly Ringwald), an aspiring journalist, sneaks away for a weekend road trip with her devoted boyfriend, Stan Bobrucz (Randall Batkinoff), to check out her potential college, the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Thrilled to have some time alone, Darcy and Stan stop by the roadside, where they share an intimate moment together.

Later, with hopes of writing for the school newspaper, Darcy meets with the student editors on campus. Despite their initial dismissal of her articles regarding her hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin, they acknowledge her enthusiasm and encourage her to send more samples. That evening, as the couple sets up a tent to camp and indulges with a glass of wine, they toast, > “To forever.” Yet, Darcy harbors private doubts about the future of their relationship, especially since Stan intends to apply for an architecture scholarship at the California Institute of Technology.

Fast forward two months, and Darcy finds herself feeling nauseated at the sight of food, leading her to suspect she might be pregnant. While Stan remains supportive, tensions rise between Darcy’s single mother, Donna Elliot (Miriam Flynn), and Mr. Bobrucz (Kenneth Mars)—Stan’s religious father—as they argue fiercely over whether Darcy should consider abortion or adoption. Concerned that an unexpected pregnancy could disrupt her college dreams, Donna books an abortion appointment for her daughter. However, Darcy ultimately chooses to raise her child with Stan instead.

Excited yet apprehensive about starting a family, the couple decides to wait until Christmas to reveal the news to their parents. When they finally do, they are met with outrage from Mr. Bobrucz, who attacks Darcy’s honor, resulting in a fierce confrontation between the young couple and their families. Estranged from their parents, Darcy and Stan opt for a simple life by moving into a rundown studio apartment and getting married in a quaint church ceremony.

With Stan taking a job as a shoe salesman, a guidance counselor suggests that Darcy drop out of high school, claiming it could set a poor example for her peers. Appalled by the suggestion, Darcy ultimately decides to enroll in night classes while working day shifts at a hamburger joint. Meanwhile, Stan receives a full scholarship to Caltech, but learns that the institution does not accommodate housing for married freshmen. Rather than revealing the truth to Darcy, he pretends he wasn’t accepted.

On prom night, Darcy goes into labor and delivers a baby girl, whom she insists on having her mother notified. Amidst the chaos, Donna arrives with an adoption liaison, hoping to persuade Darcy to reconsider keeping the baby. After seeing her granddaughter, Donna decides to support Darcy, but their relationship is strained as Darcy battles postpartum depression. Although Darcy struggles with maternal instincts, Stan embraces fatherhood and lovingly names their daughter Theodosia after his grandmother.

One night, while Stan is at work, Darcy spots a man lurking outside their apartment and calls 911, fearing for her and Thea’s safety. The police identify the intruder as Mr. Bobrucz, who seeks to reconnect with his estranged son, Stan.

As financial burdens escalate, both Darcy and Stan confront the fact that they may never be able to attend college. When Thea falls ill and they can’t afford medical expenses, Darcy resolves to move back in with her mother, which puts additional strain on their relationship. Stan begins to drink heavily and sneaks out at night, eventually crossing paths with his former girlfriend, Michaela (Michelle Downey), who tries to turn him against Darcy by blaming her for ruining his aspirations. However, in their conversation, Stan recognizes that his love for Darcy transcends all else.

After learning the truth from Michaela that Stan wasn’t accepted at Caltech, an overwhelmed Darcy contacts the university and discovers that another scholarship has become available. Enrolling Stan without his consent, she pretends to have moved on, kicks him out, and seeks an annulment for their marriage since they were both underage at the time of their wedding. Despite briefly contemplating attending Caltech, Stan soon understands that Darcy orchestrated their separation and pleads with her to reconsider.

During Darcy’s night school graduation, Stan surprises her by announcing that they’ve both received scholarships to the University of Wisconsin after he submitted a heartfelt piece Darcy wrote about the struggles of young motherhood to the editor of the school newspaper. Even though Donna advises Darcy to abandon the relationship, she ultimately decides for herself. In a beautiful moment of reconciliation, Stan asks Darcy to marry him once more, pledging their future together.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for For Keeps?

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from For Keeps?. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


For Keeps? (1988) HBO promo

Cars Featured in For Keeps?

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Explore all cars featured in For Keeps?, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Chevrolet

1966

Bel Air

Chevrolet

1970

Nova

Dodge

1981

Diplomat

Dodge

1979

St. Regis

Ford

1975

Econoline

Ford

1966

Mustang

Subaru

1987

GL

Volkswagen

1973

Convertible Typ 1

Volvo

1965

PV 544

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


announcement of pregnancysexual issuesfamily relationshipsteenage motherpostpartum depressionshoe storeboyfriend girlfriend relationshipmother daughter relationshipfather son relationshipshoe salesmancollege scholarshippunctuation in titlequestion mark in titleprologueteenage boyteenage girlteenage sexsex in the rainswedish carvolvovolvo motor vehiclevolvo carlive actionfertilityprocreationpregnancy announcementpregnancy testhigh schooladoptionabortionbabypantiesconceptionpregnant girlfriendpregnant bridewoman in laborquestion in titlemale female relationshippregnant teenagerpregnant schoolgirlteen angstteenage fatherbirthteenagergenerationcoming of agemarriagechildbirthkenosha wisconsinpregnancy

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