Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) is a bright, sensitive girl with a second hand wardrobe and three men in her life. First there's her father (Harry Dean Stanton). He doesn't work and has been going steadily downhill since his wife left him. There's also Ducky Dale (Jon Cryer). He's a pal of Andie's and he's got an intense, unrequited crush on her. Then there's Blane McDonough (Andrew McCarthy), a cute, rich preppie. He and Andie come from opposite sides of the tracks. So when they fall in love, the differences between them (he drives a BMW and she's ashamed of where she lives) brings problems to their romance.