Jim Mills (Richard Evans) and Cathy Taylor (Jennifer West) are high schoolers who fall in love and sneak out to meet each other, despite the disapproval of Cathy's dad. When Cathy gets pregnant, their lives take a turn for the worse.
Too Soon to Love contains examples of:
- Attempted Rape: Buddy (Jack Nicholson) gets into a car with Cathy at a drive-in, forcibly kisses her twice, and may have been about to go farther before Jim opens the door and drags him away. The two get into a fist fight, which Jim loses.
- Back-Alley Doctor: Jim's barber friend Hughie (Ralph Manza) gives him the address of a sketchy abortionist who works in the red light district, in a badly-maintained building that can be accessed via a literal back alley. While Cathy and Jim are going up to see her, another couple goes downstairs past them, the woman's face streaked with tears. At the sight of her, Cathy decides to go home.
- Bitch Slap: Cathy's dad (Warren Parker) slaps Jim in the face at the police station after the two are arrested for kissing in a car. Later, he slaps Cathy when she shouts at him during an argument.
- Cry into Chest: Cathy cries into Jim's shoulder because she's upset about her upcoming abortion.
- Good Girls Avoid Abortion: Type 3. After Cathy's first attempt, she finds a real doctor who will give her an abortion for $500. Jim steals the $370 he needs, but Cathy refuses to take stolen money.
- Innocently Insensitive: Cathy and Jim go to a doctor to get a pregnancy test for Cathy, pretending to be married. The nurse sees Cathy's worried face but gets the cause completely wrong, and says, "It'll come out positive! They usually do!"
- Interrupted Suicide: At the end of the movie, Cathy attempts suicide by running into the ocean. Jim runs after her, holds her head above water, and drags her ashore.
- Their First Time: Jim and Cathy lose their virginity on a deserted beach.
