- Buddy discovers that her old friend Laura Richardson, who has returned for a visit, is a teenage alcoholic.
- Buddy is eagerly anticipating a visit from her old friend, Laura Richardson, who moved to Chicago several years ago. She has planned a welcome-back party as a surprise. But Laura has changed. On the way back from the airport, she asks Willy to drive by her former home. To her surprise, it is for sale. She runs to the back yard and sits in the glider. Buddy joins her and they briefly reminisce about the old days. Laura is warmly welcomed by Doug and Kate, and is delighted to learn that Kate is fixing her favorite spaghetti dish for dinner.
Kate and Doug's old friend Vic is in town to visit his teenage children. He hasn't seen them in over a year and worries that they won't want to be with him. Despite Doug's encouragement, Vic is reluctant to call them. He would rather spend time helping the family decorate for the party.
Laura is dismayed to learn about the party and begs Buddy to call it off. Buddy can't understand why Laura doesn't want to see her old friends. After attempting and failing to explain, Laura asks to go to bed early as she is tired from her trip. But after the household is asleep, Laura tiptoes downstairs to the liquor cabinet. She drinks deeply from a bottle of vodka and pours some into an empty mouthwash bottle.
The next morning, Laura is hungover. Buddy notices that she doesn't seem to feel well and encourages her to go back to bed. But Laura insists on going along while Buddy runs errands. She is given Willy's old bike to ride. While Buddy goes into the dry cleaners, Laura heads for a nearby gas station. She flirts with the attendant and asks him to buy her a bottle of vodka at the liquor store next door. He agrees, but when he returns with the liquor, Laura tells him to get lost. He is angry but backs off when Laura confesses she is just fifteen.
Buddy emerges from the dry cleaners just in time to see Laura go into the gas station restroom. She waits impatiently until Laura emerges, having fortified herself with the vodka. The bottle breaks and liquid seeps through Laura's handbag. Buddy grabs it and holds up the broken bottle. Laura insists she uses it as a hair rinse but Buddy knows she is lying. When they return home, Laura confesses that she started drinking after moving to Chicago. All her new friends did and she didn't want to be left out. Buddy is angry and disgusted, insisting that there must be some of Laura's schoolmates who don't drink. Laura swears she won't do it anymore.
She asks to be left alone so she can take a nap. Kate, Doug, and Vic are going out to dinner and Willy is chaperoning the party. Before he and Buddy leave on errands, she locks the liquor bottles in a cabinet. Laura tries to force it open with a paper knife. She is unsuccessful and hides the gouged-out bits of wood and the paper knife.
When Buddy returns she goes upstairs to wake Laura, who isn't looking too good. Laura promises to come downstairs after showering and dressing. The teenagers begin arriving, and Buddy directs them to the dining room where the food is set up. While putting on some records to play, she discovers what Laura has done. Gathering the wood chips and knife, she goes upstairs and confronts Laura, who is still sitting on her bed. Laura needs a drink badly and begs Buddy for the key. But Buddy refuses. Laura follows her downstairs and grabs her arm. They struggle, with Laura sobbing and screaming. The party guests and Willy rush in and he separates the girls. Laura stumbles out of the house, with Willy in pursuit. Buddy explains to her bewildered friends that the party is off.
Willy finds Laura in the guesthouse. Having helped herself to his liquor, she is lying on the floor sobbing. He calls Kate and Doug, who in turn call a doctor. Laura is sedated and sleeps the rest of the night. Kate tries to talk to Buddy and asks why she didn't tell them that Laura was drinking. Buddy is adamant that she never wants to speak to Laura again.
The next day, Kate telephones Mrs. Richardson in Chicago to come and get Laura. Buddy finally relents and hopes Laura will get the help she needs. Vic telephones his children and learns that they can't wait to see him.
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