Good morning. D & D Advertising.
One moment, please.
Come on in, Alison.
Take a seat.
- Lucy, is something wrong? - No, please sit down.
As you're probably aware, we had to let Tobey Callow go last week.
I was asked to find a replacement and I recommended you.
Me?
Assistant Account Executive.
The pay is not much better than what you make now,
but there's room for opportunity.
You'll be acting as a liaison between creative and the client
and assisting me in all aspects of the campaign.
Lucy, this is unbelievable!
When would I start?
I'm throwing you in immediately. Trial by fire.
We lost our photographer on Maximum Advantage.
We've got to find another one that the client will approve by tomorrow.
Amanda? Hi.
Could you step into my office for a minute?
Amanda Woodward, the art director. You'll be working with her.
- You know Rex Weldon, don't you? - That cute tennis guy.
He'll appear in the campaign.
We need to shoot some art immediately, but our photographer bailed,
so we'll have to find a replacement and set up a session for tomorrow.
Alison, you know Amanda?
- Yeah, of course. Hi. - Hello.
Hi, how are you?
Amanda, why don't you fill Alison in on the rest of the details?
- Sure. - Lucy, I am floored.
- I don't know what to say. - Just don't let me down.
- OK. - Come on, Alison.
I can't believe I'm finally gonna get my own office.
More like your own veal fattening pen.
It's all yours. Feel free to redecorate.
Have you met Rex Weldon yet?
- Once, in a meeting. - What's he like?
Well, I try not to dwell on how adorable he is.
- It's too distracting. - He is, isn't he?
But we're pros, we can handle it.
The last thing you want is to get involved with a client.
When the relationship disappears, so does the account.
Then you end up like Tobey Callow.
Oh, my God, is that what happened?
According to the rumor mill.
I'm going to the morgue to pull some more portfolios.
We can start going through them.
We've got to move on this thing.
I'll be here.
Here's to Alison's brilliant career. Dreams do come true.
- Congratulations. - All right, girl.
Well, it's not exactly a brilliant career... yet.
- But it will be. - Don't forget us when you're famous.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
Now that you're making big bucks, you're not gonna need a roommate.
Fifty extra dollars a month can't pay for my dry cleaning.
- Don't worry, roomie. - I'm proud of you.
Billy, get up. Jo wants to sit down. Let's go play pool.
So, you been seeing anybody lately, man?
- Seeing, as in seeing dating? - Yeah.
No.
I think I might have someone for you.
- Are you referring to a blind date? - Yeah, something like that.
Well, so, who is she?
Not that I'm going to do this.
Her name is Lydia Perkins. She's a nurse, about 23 or 24.
- She's a very sweet girl. - Sweet?
- The best thing is "sweet"? - She's really cute.
Who does she look like? Like what famous person?
She's a dead ringer for Cindy Crawford.
- Seriously? - No, man, she looks like herself.
Look, take my word for it, she's great.
If I didn't think you two would get along,
I never would've suggested it.
I don't know, Michael, a blind date?
- Why can't she get a real date? - Why can't you?
Congratulations again, it's great!
Yeah, it's like I was working as a receptionist,
always hoping it would lead to something, but not quite sure how.
- Well, you believed in yourself. - Yeah, I guess I did.
You give us all hope.
Thanks.
You should show me your book and let me bring it into work.
I'm gonna be dealing with photographers. I can get your stuff seen.
Wow, that'd be fantastic. Are you kidding me?
You don't know how many doors have been slammed in my face,
These people don't even wanna look at a picture.
Like they're afraid of discovering something new!
Well, I'm not.
And I'd really like to help you if I can, so...
Well, do you wanna come by later tonight?
- I'd love to. - Thank you.
You're welcome.
- Jo, your work is really wonderful. - Really?
I don't know if it's commercial, though. I just shoot what turns me on.
I'll say.
- When did you shoot these? - A couple weeks ago.
- Get any numbers? - A couple.
No, I have my hands full with Jake and after what I've been through,
the last thing I need is to pick up guys at the beach.
Strictly professional.
What is going on with you and Jake?
Oh, well, trying to take it slow.
It's kinda hard though, with someone you like.
- I don't know what's best for me. - Jake's a great guy.
- And you're good for him, I can tell. - Really?
I don't know, maybe.
When did you shoot these?
Just before I got married, for an underground magazine in New York.
Do you mind if I take some of these with me to the office?
Alison, don't feel obligated. You don't...
I know, I know. But these are really good.
Well, God, yeah.
I mean take them, see what you can do.
Whose work is this?
A photographer named Jo Reynolds.
- Never heard of him. Is he new? - Sort of. And she's from New York.
Really?
I love this. It's sexy, stylish, fun.
- Who's her agent? - I don't know if she has one out here.
And besides, she's not on your approved list.
No one's available.
This friend of yours may be the lucky break we need.
I'm gonna show her stuff to Lucy. Wanna come?
- Yeah. - So, what's she done?
- Interesting stuff in New York. - Any commercial work?
- I haven't seen any. - She sure is dynamic.
And she's got a great rapport with her subjects.
Well, Alison, what do you think?
- I think we should give her a shot. - Lucy, the clock is ticking.
All right. Have her in my office this afternoon.
- Oh, that's good. - Yeah, beautiful, beautiful.
Try this one.
Oh, my God, it's better than sex.
Almost.
Nancy's a gifted pastry chef, and I want her to make the cake for our wedding.
Terrence, I think my mom wanted to do our wedding cake for us,
as part of her gift to us.
- What, as in make it herself? - Yeah.
For 200 people?
Where did you get 200? I told my parents a small wedding.
We gotta decide how involved we're gonna let our parents be in this thing.
If I let her, my mother would come and run the whole show.
My mom's coming down next week, but not to run the whole show.
Look, baby, I want this wedding to be about us,
not what our parents think we oughta be.
If I want you to walk down the aisle on white roses,
I don't want anybody to tell me it's impractical.
This is the most exciting day of my life.
I don't want anybody to ruin it.
- Excuse me. - All right, OK. You're right.
It's our day.
Now, what do you think about some white roses, baby?
I like it, I like it.
Gentlemen, sorry to keep you waiting.
Rex Weldon, Arnold Castle, I'd like you to meet
- Alison Parker and Amanda Woodward. - Nice to meet you.
- They'll be coordinating your shoot. - Great.
Arnold, we've run into a hot new photographer from New York.
I'm going to have a meeting.
- I'd like her to shoot Rex. - What's her name?
- Jo Reynolds. - I think I've heard of her.
I'm sure you have.
So you're the one scheduled to baby-sit the shoot tomorrow?
Yeah, that's one way of putting it.
You know, I've been in LA for two days,
staying at this hotel in Century City with Arnold,
who's not exactly a party guy.
- You don't know people here? - No one.
And I think if you don't take me somewhere happening tonight,
I might die of terminal boredom before tomorrow.
That would certainly spoil things.
Name the place, Alison, I'm all yours.
So how did someone as young and beautiful as yourself
- end up a high-powered ad exec? - Oh, please.
- I'm hardly high-powered. - But you are beautiful.
Come on, I can tell you that.
In fact, I think it should be you up there
modeling the Maximum Advantage underwear line, not me.
I don't think so.
Come on, we'll do it together.
Give them two for the price of one.
What's this? We're calling it a night?
I've really got to get home.
It's 7.30.
How about you let me take you out for dinner?
I'd love to,
but I really think we've gotta keep this on a professional basis.
Professional.
Let me tell you something.
This doesn't look like the office to me.
Just take me out and shoot me at dawn by firing squad.
Blindfold optional.
Aren't we being over-dramatic?
Come on. How many times in a young woman's life
do opportunities like this arise?
Sitting across a table from Rex Weldon...
Those light brown eyes, his hand holding mine...
Women don't say no to men like that.
When I get another chance like this, I'll be in a walker, no teeth,
unable to remember my name.
It's great. Displayed real willpower.
What I displayed was cowardice. Tell me something, Billy.
Why am I so righteously principled?
- Some of us like that about you. - Answer the question.
I think it's a question of practicality.
You've been chained to a phone,
this is your first big chance and you don't want to blow it.
- Where are you going? - A date.
- Right. I recognize the smell. - A blind date. Michael set it up.
You hear something and it sounds great,
- then two hours later it's like... - Facing the firing squad.
Yeah, I think I know the feeling.
Wait.
Better.
Billy's great adventure.
Yeah, wouldn't that be nice?
Three words of advice. Go for it.
- Billy? - Lydia.
Yes, so, soccer and writing.
And writing and soccer. You?
Dance. I'm into dance.
Post-modern dance.
But watching it, not actually performing it.
I gave that up years ago.
- Blind dates are the worst. - Yeah, I know.
All that anticipation, wondering if he's going to be Quasimodo,
and you're thinking, "God what if she's this dog?"
We're working ourselves up into this frenzy over what? One date?
So we've talked about hobbies and sports.
I won't ask you about the thrills of cab driving.
OK, I won't ask you about nursing.
- Other interests? - Cliff diving. You?
Mud wrestling.
Actually, my favorite thing to do is go to the movies.
Especially cheesy horror flicks.
I hate horror movies.
I get enough of that at the hospital.
To blind dates.
I'll make you another one.
No, no, I'm way too full of terror to eat.
All these nightmares I've been having.
Film getting lost. Nobody showing up. That's the worst.
I'm alone on the set and it's the wrong day and the wrong place.
I've had this job all of two days
and already I feel like I'm in over my head, like I don't know what I'm doing.
Alison, don't self-destruct.
- It's too early in your career. - I know.
I guess...
I guess I'm more worried about Jo.
Jo? Am I missing something?
- She's doing the shoot. - Are you kidding?
- Billy. - No wonder you couldn't sleep.
She'll be terrible. She's difficult.
She won't listen. She'll cause problems.
Billy, will you stop it?
- She's a great photographer. - OK, all right.
Maybe I'm over-exaggerating. I'm sure you know what you're doing.
- How was your date? - It was nice.
- OK. Average. - Good? You going out again?
I told her I'd call her, but I won't.
Billy, that's awful.
What? We had a good time, but there were no fireworks.
- I doubt she thinks I'm gonna call her. - God, I hate that.
You wait around a day, two days.
A week turns into two weeks. You know he's not going to call.
You realize how much time you wasted hoping.
It doesn't matter whether you like the guy or not,
what matters is that the son of a bitch didn't call.
So I should call her?
Yes, Billy, I think you should call her.
Alison! Let's go!
- What's all this? - A job where they pay me actual money.
- Alison got it for me. - Congratulations.
- Thanks. - Anything I can do?
- Pray for me. - Hi, Jake. Ready?
- Let's go, bye. - Bye.
- Give 'em hell! - All right.
Oh, yeah. Let's go.
Oh, yes!
Right. That's right.
Oh, yes!
That's right babe, there you go,
Yes, good.
Good, flex it!
Love yourself. Good. Great.
God, this is great.
Yes, that's it, stay with it, come on, come on.
Oh, yes. That's right.
Oh, good.
You've done this before.
Nope, virgin.
She's terrific. This is going better than I hoped.
- We've got some great shots, Arnold. - Super.
Can we have powder? And I need a ladder.
We got everything. Say goodbye. Let's get out of here.
- Absolutely. - Rex,
- See you at the hotel. - Great work.
- Thanks. - Bye, Lucy.
- Bye. - You were wonderful.
- Thanks. I want you to open your mind. - It's open.
- We got some great stuff. - Everybody loves it.
Great, but just your standard photography.
The client'll like it, but they won't die for it.
Everybody really...
So, what I want to do is something a little bizarro.
I mean, something new.
Consider it extra credit.
Alison, come on, we gotta get going.
OK!
Go ahead, do it.
OK, enough make-up. Bring that table to the platform.
Rex...
Lose the briefs.
So I called her, she invites me for dinner and now I'm trapped.
Your first mistake was saying you'd call.
Your second mistake was listening to Alison.
Now you're gonna dump her in person.
The funny thing is, it's bugging Lydia as much as it's bugging me.
Blind dates, what a mistake.
Relationships are a mistake. If only I could survive without one.
You did fine up until now.
I thought you just said that Jo was in the
"I'm not ready for a relationship yet phase".
- I'm going to make your butt famous. - Yeah? I heard it's already famous.
"Infamous" is more like it.
- Some women are attracted to that. - Some women are into trophies.
So if I play hard to get, I have a better chance, right?
Rex, you could play Mozart on a mouth harp
and still not have a chance.
- Your hair always been short? - I was bald when I was born.
Excuse me a second. Hey, Jake.
Jo, how you doing? Shoot went well, I guess.
Better than well. I think I aced it.
- Yeah, I can see. - Wait a second, he's harmless.
- Well, good. - Jake, we're just having a drink.
- Like you and Rusty do. - Did I say anything?
Come on, Jake, don't be like this, please.
I'm sorry, OK? I can't help it.
It's just a little tough to watch, all right?
Jo disappeared after her photo shoot. She's not here, is she?
- She reappeared at Shooters. - What's she doing there?
Other than flirting with Rex the Wonder Stud, no idea.
She took Rex to Shooters?
Not fooling around with people you work with
doesn't apply to photographers.
She should be home developing film. We have a deadline.
- Hi, guys. - Jo. Rex.
- Small world. You following us? - I live here.
Jo, I thought I'd get a chance to see those proofs tonight.
Relax, you'll get 'em tomorrow. First thing.
Well, if I were you, I'd start working on them now.
Rex, I had a good time. Thank you.
- Sure. How about if I just? - Some other time.
Sure.
- Goodnight. - Goodnight... all.
Good morning.
Hi, you always go to work this early?
I'd like to get in early to go over the accounts
and I wanted to talk to you before I left, so...
All right, well, I'm not quite awake
because I was up all night per your orders, but come on in.
- I need some coffee, do you want any? - Sure.
So I guess the rest of the shoot went well last night.
I mean, when Rex brought you home, the two of you looked pretty friendly.
I just hope that translates into some great shots.
I don't have to tell you,
how this account comes out has a big effect on my life.
Or at least this career I'm trying to put together.
- Alison, this is important to me too. - Then why'd you go out with Rex?
- What's that have to do with anything? - It's unprofessional.
Amanda was talking about this the other day.
You don't socialize with clients or the talent. It is just not done.
Who is Amanda, the Emily Post of advertising?
We went out to dinner. He's good looking.
He also happens to be a bore.
He asked me out too. I said no.
Yeah, he told me you went out for drinks.
Yeah, but the point is...
The point is I don't follow anyone else's rules.
I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable.
I guess you don't care that it makes Jake pretty uncomfortable, too?
That is between me and Jake.
Alison, what is this about?
I'm sorry.
When will I see the slides?
- You'll have them this afternoon. - Great. Thanks for the coffee.
You're welcome.
Who are these people we're meeting? I'm not dressed.
You look fine. This isn't a dress up occasion.
These houses look pretty dressy.
Well, maybe so, but the people inside are real down home.
Hey, what's going on?
Your palace awaits, madam.
If you don't like it, we don't have to buy it.
But give it a chance.
The living room is carpeted, but the dining room has hardwood.
And we got a state of the art kitchen. A Miele dishwasher.
We got four bedrooms, a family room, a study...
We got everything we need in here, baby.
Terrence, we'll get lost in here. It's only the two of us.
Well, maybe after awhile we could start a family.
No rush, but it's nice to be prepared.
You all right?
Oh, I'm fine. I just felt a draught.
I'm sorry, baby.
I shouldn't have sprung this on you all at once, but when I saw this house,
I mean, I just fell in love with it.
It really felt like you.
- It's beautiful, Terrence. - Really? You mean it?
Sure I do.
Oh, baby, you make me so happy.
Those slides should be here by now.
You've been saying that every five minutes for an hour.
- Call the messenger service again. - OK.
Hey, over here rocket butt.
Oh, good.
- Guns N' Roses makes you impotent. - Cool.
Never mind, no great loss.
- I don't believe this. - What?
There's no underwear.
- He's naked! - Oh, my God.
In every one. God, I am gonna kill her.
I did not do this to embarrass you, Alison.
I made a professional judgement between some conventional boring work
that any hack could have turned in and something fresh and original,
- and that I liked. - It's basic, Jo.
We are selling underwear. He wasn't wearing any.
Now maybe Rex's rear is fresh,
but this is advertising and the client likes to see his product.
Well, you see, if you were paying attention,
you'd have seen that in some shots they were by his ankle
and in other shots he had 'em here on his hip.
Are there any slides of the regular shots?
You gotta admit he had a cute tush.
Jo, this is not funny to me!
This is my job and you are working for me.
Do you have the slides or not?
All right, if this is what you want, here you go.
Be honest, Alison, these are good,
but they're what anyone would've expected.
These are what I expected, yeah.
But the other work, it's dramatic, it's unexpected,
it has a sense of humor.
Can you say that those shots I gave you didn't grab you?
And would've made you laugh if you weren't panicky about breaking a rule?
Look, I am not an artist, I admit that.
Maybe I'm more conventional than you thought,
but I do what is asked of me and I try to do it well.
Maybe that's just the way I was raised, OK?
Didn't you like the weird shots? I mean, just between you and me?
Those weird angles and the nudity?
Doesn't part of you like the unexpected?
The work was good. I never said it wasn't.
- It's not what they asked for. - But if you like it, you take a gamble.
Jo, this is business. And I am new.
One way to stand out in the crowd is to be honest.
What is the worst they can say? No.
No, they can do a lot worse than that. They can fire me.
Well, you have the ones that they wanted.
It's your choice.
Would you like some more of these potatoes?
It's great, these sweet potato things.
What you did here is a beautiful thing.
Well, thank Gelson's, their pre-baked department.
I've always liked that store. Did they do the chicken too?
Let's be honest, Billy. We both know they did the chicken.
And you've been stuffing your face for the last half hour
- so you won't have to talk. - No, not at all.
It's OK. I'm doing the same thing. Anything to avoid a conversation.
- I guess it's not working out, huh? - Good guess.
Billy, you're really cute and you're really nice and everything,
but you're not my type.
I prefer men who are more substantial.
- You mean, like fat? - No.
I mean older, more established.
Yeah, well, come to think of it, you're not really my type, either.
Come to think of it? You knew the minute I opened that door
that there was no magic.
And it doesn't take a whole evening to figure that out.
I mean, blind dates are a risk. I mean, come on, what are the odds?
Don't ask me. I'm not substantial enough.
Would you stop?
I mean the point is, I didn't want to hurt you and you didn't want to hurt me.
We didn't want to hurt Michael for setting us up.
So why did you ask me out if you weren't interested?
I don't know. Why'd you ask me to dinner?
Because you called. I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
Wow, if we hadn't nipped this in the bud,
- we might've gotten married. - Or worse.
We might've been in bed together.
You know, you're here and I bought some dessert.
Gelson's makes a really mean eclair.
Chocolate?
- Sorry. Vanilla. - Of course.
Billy, why don't I walk you to your car?
You shouldn't throw fabric softener in with towels.
It takes all the fluff out of them.
Thanks for the hint, Heloise, I didn't know that.
What are you doing home on a Tuesday night for?
Don't you and Terrence have a wedding to plan?
Yeah, he's working. I've got the evening off.
- Matt, I'm in trouble. - What is it?
Terrence took me to look at a house this afternoon.
A house he wants to buy for us.
It was this big Tudor thing, about 40 minutes out of the city.
- You wouldn't have believed it. - What's wrong with that?
Nothing.
It's what I'm supposed to aspire to.
A rich husband, house in the 'burbs, kids and all that.
- I'm not ready for it. - Rhonda, talk to Terrence.
Tell him you don't want to live there or have kids.
But he does, Matt.
And two people about to start a life together
should want the same things.
I mean, I walked into that house and it was like...
I felt like I was being swallowed alive.
Rhonda, do you love him? I mean, do you really love him?
It all happened so fast, Matt. He seemed so right.
I felt like a fool, like I couldn't say no.
- But do you love him? - I don't know.
- Big night last night? - Thanks for that advice.
About going out with her...
We've mutually agreed to never see each other in this lifetime.
There was no magic. A waste of time,
a washout for both of us. The only person who'll care is Michael.
- Somebody'll come along. - I won't hold my breath.
What do you think of this?
Oh, my God, nice butt.
- But not my type. - No, seriously.
This is Jo's choice for the Maximum Advantage campaign.
- Do you think it's too risky? - I warned you about her.
Billy, I've got to figure this out.
Do I risk it and show this to the clients, or burn the negatives?
You're an executive now, you'll figure it out.
Are you out of your mind?
I know it's nuts, but look at them.
They're better, sexy, exciting, it's cutting edge advertising.
This is sports briefs. Locker rooms. Roll-on deodorant. Athletes' foot.
- You're doing this European number. - Calm down. I haven't done anything.
But honestly, you know they're better.
Yes, but the clients will hate them. Why set yourself up?
Play it safe?
Play it smart.
- Nice. - Yeah.
- Great. - That's a definite one.
Good.
Great.
Perfect.
- Really terrific. - That is terrific.
- Excellent work. - You hit it right on.
Is that all, Alison?
No, there are a few more.
What the hell is this?
This is not what we talked about.
- He's buck naked. - Oh, boy.
My... This is wrong, it's totally wrong.
Sorry, just a little stab at humor.
Alison, would you stick around for awhile?
Now, let's keep focused on those first shots,
I think we are in great shape.
Isn't this wonderful?
This is what we call our "wedding in Provence" invitation.
This is scented with real lavender.
Imported from the South of France.
Excuse me, won't you?
- You don't like it, do you? - I don't know, Terrence.
I don't know. I don't know.
Well, what is it? Is lavender too much?
Cos we can just go more basic.
I mean, look at this one, this one's nice.
What is it baby?
Talk to me, baby.
I'm not ready to get married, Terrence.
What?
This has been such a whirlwind,
it's taken me this long to realize this isn't what I want.
I don't get it. When did this happen?
It's been building, gradually,
but I know that...
...I can't go forward with this.
Come on, you're just getting cold feet, baby.
Terrence, this isn't cold feet.
Do you love me?
You are a wonderful man,
sweet and generous and caring.
Yeah, but do you love me?
I'm sorry.
I never meant to lead you on. I'm not really sure that you love me.
I think you're in love with the person you want me to be.
Rhonda, I think you're making a big mistake.
No, Terrence, I'm avoiding one.
We both are.
Goodbye, Terrence.
Thank you for everything.
So have we reached a decision?
Yeah.
I believe we have.
Oh, my God, oh my God. She fired you, didn't she?
Oh, my God, I am so, so sorry, Alison.
What've I done? Just shoot me, just shoot me.
- Are you done? - I ruined your career.
You didn't let me finish.
So Lucy calls me into her office, and says the pictures are great,
creative and innovative and they showed I had courage and imagination.
Really? Courage and imagination?
She just thought I lacked judgement.
Yeah.
And then she fired you?
She said if I ever pulled a stunt like this again she'd boot me.
But you still have your job? Oh, thank God!
What's our next assignment?
My next assignment is Oakum Sausage Links.
And I am not letting you near it.
I see it now.
These links, big and beautiful, winged, descending from...
All right, all right.
But you gonna admit ol' Rex had a really cute set of buns.
Mind if I come in?
- What's all this? - I hope you like Chinese.
I found this great new place right down the block.
I'm sure it doesn't touch your linguini in clam sauce.
How come every time we get into a fight, you show up with food?
I don't know.
You can't keep doing this, barge in and out of my life.
You say you don't want to play with rules, then you make 'em up.
OK, all right. Then let's make 'em up together.
Jake, I like you so much it scares me.
My first instinct is to run, but I haven't, here I am.
What about the tennis player?
I don't think I've missed anyone as much as I missed you that night at Shooters.
Coming.
- Hi. - Is this Alison Parker's apartment?
Yeah, I'm her roommate, Billy Campbell.
Oh, I'm Amanda Woodward. I work with her at D & D.
Well, she just went for a run, but you're welcome to wait for her.
Oh, no. I was in the neighborhood, and thought I'd drop this by.
- It's our next account. - It's funny, she never mentioned you.
It's funny, she never mentioned you, either.
Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Billy.
You sure I can't interest you in a drink?
Oh, I don't know.
I'd love to, but I have a lot of work.
OK, how about dinner?
I really have to go.
How about a rain check?
Yeah, definitely. Anytime.
Good.
I'll see ya, Amanda.
See ya, Billy.
Real soon.