Hello, Pam. This is Scott. How would like to go to the movies with me Saturday night? Your money is safe at State Savings. Time, 5:45. Temperature, 82 degrees. Thank you.

Hello. Pam speaking. Hello. Hello? Who is this?

[MUSIC PLAYING] Do you lack confidence? Does the sun set in the west? Hey, Becky. I'm going to the bank. Show this new kid the ropes before we get too busy. OK? OK. Now you try it.

Nothing to it.

That would make a great chocolate malt. But I think you used a little too much chocolate. Yeah. I'm trying. You certainly are.

Hot dog. Hot dog.

Hamburger.

Cheeseburger.

Could you put that on separate checks, please? [MUSIC PLAYING] Scott. The grill!

Hey. I guess you really like it here? I should be home practicing on my bassoon. What? Oh, it's bassoon. It's like a balloon with S's. Oh. It's an instrument. Do you think Mr. Shreamer will fire me? Mr. Beamer. He only yells like that when he's mad. I guess no one ever tried to make french fried hot dog buns before. Yeah, well. I know I can pick all of this up. The first few days are always tough. Why did you take this job anyway? I need money. Paper route wasn't enough. For what? I may take a karate course. I've got to build up my confidence. I got to call up this girl.

Hey. Maybe I was a little hard on you. I'd hate to see you lose your job. It gets easier. (CAR HORN SOUNDS) Hey, come on. Move it. Gotta go. Have fun playing your balloon. Yeah. It's a bassoon. Come on. Move it. Ain't got all day. Let's go. I'm in a hurry.

Yes, sir. What can I do for you? Tell Becky Joe's here. Becky, Joe's here. Just a minute. Just a minute. I can hear. You must be the nerd who plays the balloons. Bassoon. It takes all kinds. [MUSIC PLAYING] Thank you.

What's your favorite malt? Butterscotch. Why? I'll make you one without spilling one drop on the floor. Thanks, I'm not in the mood. If I had my bassoon here, I'd play something happy. Hey, don't worry about me. That's nothing new. Joe's a little hard to understand. Guess I've seen too many movies. True. Yeah, I thought romance is supposed to be romance. Busy day. Yeah. Sure was. Becky. Hmm. Can I walk you home? Long walk. I have long feet. OK. Come on.

You're not very talkative today.

Scott, what's the matter? Becky, what's wrong with me? Nothing. Come on. Be honest. I can take it. Nothing's wrong with you. Except, maybe, burning grilled cheese sandwiches all the time. Is that I only weigh 26,000 grams? Grams? I sound bigger in the metric system. It's the bassoon? No. You know, that bassoon, it really hasn't made it with big rock groups yet. But I've thought of forming a rock group, and I'm going to have an electronic bassoon. I haven't figured out the details yet.

Why can't I get a date? Beats me. Did you try to get dates? Actually no. But I phoned Pam once. What did she say? Hello. That's all? I'd rather not go into it.

Maybe you just need a little practice. Practice? Listen, why don't you call me tonight? Just for practice? OK. I'll call you tonight.

Hello. Hello. Becky? This is, this is Scott. Hello, Scott. Hello, Becky.

Scott, are you still there? Yeah, yeah. Well, why don't you ask me something? Becky--

what does a-- what does a girl look for in a guy? Well, it's hard to say, Scott. It depends on the girl. Well, what do you like? Do you like somebody to treat you rotten, like Joe? You don't like him very much, do you? What do I know? He is a success, not me. Maybe it's something I should try. OK, let's say I came home from work to your house. And I sat down in front of the TV. And I had something cold to drink. And I turn on the game. OK, you say something to me. How's the game? Don't bother me when I'm watching the game. Can't you let me have five minutes of peace? Trying to sound just like Joe. I don't like it. Well, that's what Joe does to you. Is it? Yeah. You would never do a dumb thing like marry him, would you? I mean, you're not serious about him. I don't know. I bet he'd treat you the same way after you were married. I'd never treat you that way though. How would you treat me? I'd treat you special. Scott, look, I think we'd better hang up now. I didn't say anything wrong, did I? No. Goodbye.

I never say anything right.

You're mad at me, aren't you? No, I'm just thinking. I'm sorry if I said anything to hurt your feelings last night about you and Joe. Hey, maybe I needed to hear it. Yeah. I think you're great, Becky. Yeah, well. I think you're nice too. I wish I were. I feel like your friendly neighborhood zero. Well, you're not. You've just told yourself that so many times, you're starting to believe it. If I were better at football, then I would be somebody. Then Pam would go out with me. You're somebody now. I think you're the most decent guy I've ever met. You think so? No. Not me. If I was just better talking to people. Like my Dad, he talks to everybody. He just walks right up and starts talking to them, even gas station attendants. By the time the gas tank is filled, they're all friends. You can learn. Talk to the customers. Why not? Here you go. Thanks. How are things in California? Are the oranges doing well? What? The oranges in California. How do they do? I don't know. Oh, well. I guess if we haven't heard anything, I guess, we can assume, they're doing OK and we'll have a good crop of oranges next year. Wouldn't you say? Ah, I see you're driving a Volkswagen. Do you get good gas mileage? Gas mileage? Ah, I don't know. Really. You don't know? You know, I think that's funny. You know, you buy a small car, so you can get good gas mileage. And you don't know what gas mileage you're getting. I think that's funny. Don't you think that's funny? Thanks.

You forgot your change. [CAR DOORS CLOSING] They forgot their change. [CAR DRIVING OFF] See what I mean? I never say the right thing. That's why I'm afraid to call Pam. Hey, maybe after work, if you want, I'll help you phone her. Really? If you promise me one thing: don't talk to any more customers. It's a deal. [CLEARS THROAT] What's wrong? My voice. Scott, don't worry about it. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I need some practice. Oh, Scott. Oh. Hello. Hello. Hello.

Hello.

Pam, this is Scott, your paper boy.

Oh really? Tell your father I've really been trying not to throw it up on the roof anymore. Oh, no trouble. No trouble. No trouble. Goodbye. Maybe I'll call her a couple times to break the ice.

Oh. Boy, hiya! OK [SOUNDS OF THINGS BREAKING] Hey, wow. Look at that. [WHISTLE] Doesn't it make you mad? Maybe I've gotten used to it. Ah.

Becky, um. Huh. You know, I play the bassoon? Yeah. And that doesn't matter to you? We're still friends? Sure.

Well. I'm in an orchestra. We play classical music. That's nice. Someone's got to play it. Really? So, next Thursday night the Orchestra Society is having a dinner and a dance at the hotel ballroom. And I was wondering-- there'll be a lot of really old guys there. But there'll be a lot of really young guys too. Your age. The brass section. Will you. Will you go? With me? It's a free dinner. Well, Scott. I'd like to, but-- That's great. You know, we've served food all this time together, we've really never sat down and ate together. What about Joe? I'm not afraid of Joe. Well, it is his night to bowl. [SIGH] So, what are you going to say? Don't worry. Got it all figured out. A little light conversation to put her at ease. And then I'll casually ask her if she wants to go to the movies with me. [HYPERVENTILATING] Hello? Is this Pamela Robertson of 1054 Riverside Drive? This is Scott McCormick of 619 Riverside Drive. I knew we should have practiced. A little light conversation, remember?

Say something. I saw-- I saw you spraying your dandelions a few days ago. What kind of weed killer do you use? Oh, no, no. That's OK. You don't have to go all the way to your garage to find out. I'll ask your father. I bet you did a great job though. I bet you killed off every dandelion in your yard. The movies. Ask her to go to the movies. That's one thing I really like about you, Pam. You're really very thorough.

Thank you, I try to be through too. Ah, the movies. Ask her to go to the movies with you. Pam, when I get out of high school, I'm going to go to college. Yeah. You know, I didn't want you to think I was going to get married right away. Oh, why did you say that? Oh, gosh. I'm putting her at ease. What? What? Oh. Does it sound like I'm talking to somebody? Whoa, you know, that sure is funny. Well, you know, keep it up with your lawn. Yeah. Goodbye.

Scott, you didn't ask her. It didn't come up. Becky, watch this.

Ha. Scott, that's fantastic. Wait till those little leaguers get here.

You haven't forgotten about the dinner dance tonight, have you? No. You don't have to bring any money. I'm going to pay for everything. I've already called in our reservation. They're saving two chickens for us. I'm worried Joe's going to find out. Becky, I'm not afraid of Joe. Besides, you said he bowls on Thursday nights.

Hey, how is it going? It's not. Oh. Fire sprinklers went off in the bowling alley last night. They closed it down a couple of days. Whoa. Whoa. That's too bad. [MUSIC PLAYING] Hey, kid. Becky says you've got a date with her tonight. Well, it's really not a date. You see, I play in the symphony. And once a year we have a dinner dance. And I thought it'd be nice for Becky and me-- She's not going. Joe, you don't own me. That's true. You either come out here, or I'm coming in after you. Yeah. [MUSIC PLAYING] I should in all fairness warn you. Although I may appear to be harmless, I've been trained in the ancient martial arts of the Orient. You have a choice. Either break your date with Becky, or I'm going to break your arm. If you do that, there'll be a lawsuit--assault and battery. Break the date. Why? So you can yell at her and make her feel like two cents? She's worth more than that.

I'm not going to break your arm. I'm going to break your head. OK, wait. I'm going to break this board. With my hand.

Don't press your luck, Joe.

Ha. Ha. Who. Ha. Oh, Scott are you OK? Come on.

Wow. You think I scared him? [MUSIC PLAYING] Hey, Scott. Why don't come on and dance with us? We haven't got dates either. You guys go ahead. I'm waiting for someone. You? Female bassoon? (LAUGHING) No. Her.

You're going with her? Yeah, sure.

Take it easy, boys.

Gosh, I wish you'd forget about this mail-order confidence stuff and just do it. Tell yourself you can do it and do it. I can do it.

I can't do it. Would you go make the phone call?

(DIALING THE PHONE) Hello, Pam. This is Scott. Did you find out what weed killer you're using? Oh yeah, I'm sure it's really good. Pam, there's something I want to ask you. You know I had braces once too. I mean that's something we both share, isn't it?

Oh, no. No, Becky is just a friend. Why? Oh really? He is, huh? What? Well, you tell him. Becky is a fine person. No, Becky broke up with Joe After I had fought him. It's a long story. Some guy wants to take you out next week. Was he at the party last night? Yeah. Remember the salad bar? Remember the guy who offered to help when I spilled the clam chowder on your shoe? Oh, him? Hey, Becky. Don't tell yourself it couldn't happen. Hey, I'm going to tell you a little something about Becky. Hope she won't mind me saying. But, you know, we both work in the drive-in. Well, when it comes to cleaning the grease trays and the grill, she doesn't do it once a month. She does it once a week, you know what I mean? She's special. Listen, you tell Mike to come down here tomorrow, and I'll put a good word in to Becky about him. You know, Pam, why don't you come down with Mike, and I buy you a banana split at absolutely no cost to you. But only for you, OK? Not Mike. Yeah, OK. OK. OK. See you later. Poor girl. What do you mean? I think she is really falling for me. How can you tell? Maybe I shouldn't say anything, but on my way to work this morning, she was outside spraying for crab grass. [MUSIC PLAYING]