My Tutor (1983) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A summer tutoring arrangement becomes a complicated romance as Bobby pursues independence from his father's plans and faces the consequences of his choices.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Exam and the Tutor

Bobby learns that his French result threatens his Yale acceptance, and Mr. Chrystal hires Terry to prepare him for a retake. Bobby's own UCLA and astronomy ambitions emerge as he begins studying with her.

Key Events

• Aerobics and Final Exam — Terry attends aerobics while Bobby takes his final French exam. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Aerobics class and classroom
• Bobby's Summer Ambition — Bobby hopes to lose his virginity during the summer. Characters: Bobby Location: Unspecified
• The French Exam Results — Bobby learns he must retake French and score at least 85% to retain his Yale acceptance. Characters: Bobby Location: Unspecified
• Terry Is Hired — Mr. Chrystal hires Terry to tutor Bobby and offers a $10,000 passing bonus. Characters: Mr. Chrystal, Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Bobby Resists French — Bobby shows little interest in French or Yale while Terry urges him to prepare. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Bobby's UCLA Goal — Bobby tells Terry that he wants UCLA and to study astronomy. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• French Study Progress — With Terry's help, Bobby begins making progress in French. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home

A Secret Poolside Attraction

Bobby watches Terry's nighttime swims and is caught following her. After Terry discovers her boyfriend's infidelity, she and Bobby begin an affair at the pool.

Key Events

• French Study Progress — With Terry's help, Bobby begins making progress in French. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Terry Swims at Night — Terry swims naked in the family pool after she thinks everyone is asleep. Characters: Terry Location: Chrystal home pool
• Bobby Watches Terry — Bobby sees Terry swimming and begins watching her regularly. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home pool
• Terry Catches Bobby — Bobby follows Terry to her room, and she surprises him from behind. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Terry Rebukes Bobby — Terry gently admonishes Bobby for spying, while their mutual attraction is apparent. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Terry Finds Infidelity — Terry discovers her on-and-off boyfriend cheating and becomes upset. Characters: Terry, Biker Boyfriend Location: Unspecified
• The Poolside Affair Begins — Terry sees Bobby waiting at the pool, pulls him in, and they begin an affair. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home pool

The Exam and the Bonus

As summer ends, Bobby wants the relationship to continue while Terry expects it to end after the exam. Bobby passes, but Mr. Chrystal's disclosure of the bonus turns the situation into a painful accusation.

Key Events

• Summer Draws to a Close — As the exam approaches, Bobby's feelings deepen while Terry says their affair must end afterward. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Mr. Chrystal Sees Them — Mr. Chrystal sees Bobby and Terry kissing. Characters: Mr. Chrystal, Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Bobby Passes French — Bobby passes his French exam with a score of 91%. Characters: Bobby, Terry Location: Unspecified examination setting
• The Bonus Is Revealed — Mr. Chrystal tells Bobby about Terry's promised $10,000 bonus. Characters: Mr. Chrystal, Bobby, Terry Location: Chrystal home
• Bobby Rejects Yale — Bobby confronts his father and declares he will attend UCLA to study astronomy. Characters: Mr. Chrystal, Bobby Location: Chrystal home

Choosing a Future

Bobby rejects his father's attempt to direct his future and says he will attend UCLA. After a rupture with Terry and an encounter with Bonnie, Bobby apologizes to Terry before she leaves.

Key Events

• Bobby Accuses Terry — Bobby calls Terry a hooker over the bonus; she angrily denies the accusation. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Bobby Pursues Bonnie — Bobby seeks out his former crush and persuades her to begin dating him. Characters: Bobby Location: Unspecified
• A Final Goodbye — Bobby apologizes, they share a last kiss, and Terry drives away. Characters: Terry, Bobby Location: Chrystal home
• Bobby Looks Ahead — Bobby leaps into the air, looking forward to the future. Characters: Bobby Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

• The French Setback — Bobby's exam result puts his Yale acceptance at risk, while his personal ambitions point elsewhere.
  • Failed Final — Bobby learns that he must retake French and reach the required score to retain his Yale acceptance.
  • UCLA Ambition — Bobby tells Terry that he wants to study astronomy at UCLA.
• Terry Joins the Household — Mr. Chrystal hires Terry to help Bobby prepare, with a substantial bonus tied to his exam result.
  • Tutoring Arrangement — Terry moves into the Chrystal home to work with Bobby on French.
  • Passing Bonus — Mr. Chrystal offers Terry $10,000 if Bobby passes.
• Lessons and Resistance — Bobby is initially disengaged, but Terry helps him make progress while he considers what he wants from college.
  • Reluctant Student — Bobby shows little interest in French or Yale.
  • Study Progress — Bobby begins improving with Terry's help.
• The Poolside Romance — Bobby's watching leads to a confrontation, and Terry's own romantic disappointment precedes their affair.
  • Secret Swimming — Terry swims at night, and Bobby begins watching her.
  • Affair Begins — After finding her boyfriend has cheated, Terry pulls Bobby into the pool and they begin a relationship.
• Love Under Pressure — With the exam approaching, Bobby becomes emotionally invested while Terry expects their affair to end.
  • Approaching Exam — The end of summer brings Bobby's French retake closer.
  • Conflicting Expectations — Bobby resists Terry's insistence that their relationship remain temporary.
• The Bonus Revelation — Bobby's success and his father's disclosure turn the relationship into a conflict over Terry's motives.
  • Ninety-One Percent — Bobby passes the French exam with a score of 91%.
  • Accusation and Denial — After hearing about the bonus, Bobby accuses Terry of greed, and she angrily denies it.
• Bobby Chooses UCLA — Bobby challenges his father's control and declares that he will pursue his own educational plan.
  • Confronting His Father — Bobby tells Mr. Chrystal he will no longer let him dominate his life.
  • Astronomy at UCLA — Bobby says he will attend UCLA and study astronomy.
• A Bittersweet Farewell — Bobby seeks a new beginning but returns to apologize before Terry leaves.
  • Bonnie's Date — Bobby uses his new confidence to persuade Bonnie to date him.
  • Final Kiss — Bobby apologizes to Terry, they share one last kiss, and she drives away.

Directed by

George Bowers

Key Cast

• Caren Kaye — Terry
• Matt Lattanzi — Bobby
• Kevin McCarthy — Mr. Chrystal
• Bruce Bauer — Don
• Clark Brandon — Billy