It's been five years since the accidental death of Ponyboy Curtis during the second rumble between "the Greasers" and "the Socs". While Ponyboy's eldest brother Darry Curtis and his companions mourn his loss, they receive another threatening message from the Socs, stating that they have kidnapped Darry's last living brother, Sodapop, and that he will be compromised unless they attend a third rumble.