Act One
Scene One
In the cafeteria at Rydell High School, three members of the Pink Ladies (Marty, Jan and Rizzo) are talking about the start of the school year. Meanwhile, outside of the school, Doody, Roger and Kenickie, members of the T-Birds, are talking about the past summer and about how Kenickie is saving his money to buy a car that he’s going to name “Greased Lightning.” They are soon joined by Sonny, who is already in trouble with the principal and Ms. Lynch. Inside, Frenchy introduces the other Pink Ladies to her new neighbor, Sandy Dumbrowski. As the Pink Ladies try to make Sandy feel welcome, they are joined by Patty Simcox, the head cheerleader. Patty welcomes Sandy and the group begins to talk about Danny Zuko, the boy Sandy met over the summer. Outside, Danny Zuko is met by his friends, the T-Birds, and they immediately ask him about any girls he met over the summer. At first, Danny refuses to share any details, but eventually both Sandy and he sing about their summer romance. Before class starts, the Pink Ladies meet up with the T-Birds and re-introduce Danny to Sandy. Danny is surprised that Sandy is going to Rydell, but he tells the T-Birds that Sandy is only a family friend.
Scene Two
While getting ready at their lockers, Sonny comments on Doody’s new guitar; meanwhile, Doody, who is still learning, shows his classmates what he knows. Doody imagines himself as a rock ‘n’ roll music star with his very own backup singers. Back in reality, Ms. Lynch and Principal Snyder find Sonny standing around and drag him off to detention.
Scene Three
During a sleepover in Marty’s bedroom, the Pink Ladies pressure Sandy into letting Frenchy pierce her ears, and Sandy eventually agrees. While Rizzo complains about Sandy not being cool enough, Sandy gets sick all over Marty’s bathroom. As Sandy recovers in the bathroom, Marty shows off her new kimono—the latest gift from her boyfriend, Freddy. Jan, Frenchy, and Rizzo ask Marty all about Freddy, and she tells them the kinds of things she writes to him.
Scene Four
Danny, Roger, Doody, and Sonny are out late at night stealing hubcaps off an old used car. The T-Birds talk about how much money they can make off their stolen goods when Kenickie shows up. Kenickie tells the gang that this is his car, “Greased Lightning.” His friends don’t understand what Kenickie sees in this junker, so he shows them how incredible the car can be.
Scene Five
Sandy is trying out for the Rydell cheerleading squad when Danny comes to apologize for how he acted at lunchtime. Danny invites Sandy to a picnic in the park with all the Pink Ladies and T Birds, and promises he’ll make sure that nobody will make fun of her. Patty, the head cheerleader, comes to continue Sandy’s tryout. When Danny gets jealous that Sandy is cheering in front of other guys, Sandy challenges him to do something meaningful with himself. Danny reluctantly agrees to try out for the Rydell track team before Sandy and Patty join the other cheerleaders to practice.
Scene Six
The Pink Ladies and T-Birds are at the park celebrating Frenchy’s decision to leave Rydell and go to beauty school instead. While everyone picnics, Jan asks Roger about his nickname, “Rump.” Roger admits that he is the “king of the mooners,” but that he’s only acting out to get noticed by Jan. Sandy arrives at the picnic with Eugene, the student council president, since they are collecting leaves together for class. While Sonny shows Sandy a good place to find leaves, Rizzo makes fun of “Sandra Dee” to all of her friends as Sandy rejoins the group. Sandy gets mad at Rizzo and Danny for lying about her and she storms off. As the radio reminds everyone about the upcoming prom, Rizzo asks Danny to go with her, Roger asks Jan to go with him, and Doody tries to ask Frenchy to go with him.
