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Three O'Clock High
Meek high school student Jerry Mitchell and his sister, Brei, are home alone while their parents are on vacation. The Weaver High School students this morning gossip about new student Buddy Revell, an allegedly violent psychopathic delinquent transferred from a continuation high school.
Jerry's day begins at the school newspaper, where his best friend, Vincent Costello, is editor. Their journalism teacher suggests an article to welcome the new kid, Buddy, and assigns Jerry an interview. Jerry sees Buddy in the restroom and clumsily attempts to introduce himself, but realizes he is annoying Buddy. He tells Buddy to disregard the interview request and taps Buddy's arm affably. Buddy, who has a touch phobia, throws Jerry against a wall and declares the pair will fight outside school at 3:00 P.M. Buddy warns that running away or reporting the incident would only worsen matters.
As time runs out, Jerry tries different strategies to avoid fighting. Attempts to reason with Buddy do not work. Vincent plants a switchblade in Buddy's locker to get him kicked out of school; Brei advises Jerry to skip school, but in his mom's car, Jerry finds the switchblade stuck in the steering wheel, and the ignition wires cut. Jerry tries to run, but an overzealous security guard, Duke, catches him. Duke finds the switchblade and takes Jerry to the Dean of Discipline, Mr. Dolinski, who warns that Jerry is under suspicion.
Jerry's further attempts to avoid the fight are not successful until he steals cash from the school's student store. Buddy ultimately accepts the cash to call off the fight, but proclaims Jerry a coward for not even trying to fight. Seized with self-loathing and anger, Jerry confronts Buddy and demands the money back. Buddy refuses, and Jerry agrees to the fight.
The clock finally reaches the appointed hour, and the fight begins before hundreds of eager students. Principal O’Rourke tries to break it up, but when he touches Buddy's shoulder, Buddy punches him out. Duke and Franny also intervene, but Buddy knocks out Duke and throws Franny aside. Jerry, though out-matched, stands his ground while being knocked down. Buddy takes out his brass knuckles, but Vincent distracts him, and he drops the weapon, which Brei picks up and slips to Jerry. Jerry desperately uses the brass knuckles to punch Buddy, knocking him out and winning the fight. During the subsequent excitement and police arrival, Buddy vanishes while Jerry is let go for the day.
The next day, students show Jerry their admiration and support. They buy individual sheets of paper for $1 from the school store to make up the missing cash. Buddy appears, silencing the crowd, and returns the money to Jerry. Weaver is filled with new gossip, as Jerry, now allegedly dating his crush Karen, replaces Buddy as the hot topic. Rumors deviate far from the truth.