{Happy Music}

Narrator: Popularity.  What is it made of?  How does a person get to
be popular with lots of people and have a few close friends too? 
Let's watch and see what makes people like one person and not 
another.

Wally: Hey, Jerry, there's that new girl in our math class.
Jerry: Oh, yes.  Her name's Caroline Ames.  Swell kid.  Why?  Do you know her?
Wally: Not very well.  I wish I did.  I don't know what it is, but there's something about her you like.
Bill: Well, she always looks nice, to start with.
Wally: Yeah, especially when you compare her to some of the weird characters in this place.
Ginny: Yoo hoo!

Narrator: Ginny thinks that she has the key to popularity -- parking
in cars with the boys at night.  When Jerry brags about taking Ginny 
out, he learns that she dates all the boys.  He feels less 
important.  What about Ginny?  Will that make her really popular?  
Do the boys and girls like her?  Is she welcome to join this group?

Ellie: You can rest your tray here, Ginny, for a minute.
Ginny: Thanks.  Gee, Wally, how's the play coming along?
Wally: Oh, okay, Ginny.
Jerry: Here, Ginny.
Ginny: Thanks, Jerry.

Narrator: No, girls who park in cars are not really popular.  Not 
even with the boys they park with.  Not when they meet at school or 
elsewhere.

Wally (sarcastically): Nothing like being Miss Popularity.
Other Boys: Yeah.
Ellie: Meow, meow.
Wally: Okay, Ellie.  Now there's a girl that would really get my 
vote.
Ellie: Do you want me to ask her over?
Boys: Yeah, sure, why not?

Narrator: Now, why do they invite Caroline to join there group, when 
Ginny wasn't welcome?  Is it because they like the way she looks and 
dresses?  Because she seems as interested in girls as in boys?  
Because they've heard no scandal about her?

Ellie: I think you know everybody, don't you, Caroline?
{Everyone exchanges hellos: Hi, everyone, hi, hi, etc.}
Caroline: I've seen you around, but I don't think I've met you.
Ellie: This is Caroline Ames.  Betty's the lead in our class play.
Caroline: Oh, yes.  I looked in on rehearsal yesterday.
Ellie: We're all in on it in one way or another.  I'm on the costume 
committee.
Bill: And Jerry and I are stagehands.
Jerry: Two among a dozen or so.
Caroline: How 'bout you, Wally?  Where do you fit in all this?
Wally: Oh, I'm a one man team that does a job with no glory attached.  I gather the props together.  {chuckles}  Boy! what a headache.
Caroline: You sound like you need a helper.  Could I lend a hand?
Wally: Would you?  I mean, would you really?
Caroline: Sure, I'd like to.  I don't know anything about props, but 
I could learn.
Ellie: Oh, I need some help too Caroline.
Wally: Hey, lay off, I saw her first.
{Bell rings... all scatter}

Wally: Say we ought to get together and talk over those props a 
little.  Could you meet me backstage at 3:15?
Caroline: Oh, that'd be fine, Wally.

Jerry: I think maybe I'll take Caroline to the dance Saturday night.
Bill: Well, better go ahead and ask her and we can work out a double date.
Jerry: Aw, Saturday's soon enough.

{cut to phone ringing}
Caroline: Hello?  Oh, hello, Wally.
Wally: I - I was wondering if you'd like to go to the Strand to see 
a movie Saturday night and then go over to Teen Town, maybe.
Caroline: Well, yes, I - 
Wally: Or, if you'd rather go with the gang on a skating party and 
weenie roast.  We would have to leave earlier for that, though.  
But, we'd still get home at a decent time.
Caroline: Oh, the skating sounds like loads of fun.

Narrator: Wally has used a lot of common sense in putting the 
invitation this way.  It shows he has thought about what Caroline 
might like.  And he has implied his price range, so she can have 
some idea of what he can afford when she makes her choice.  Caroline 
likes it better this way too.  It's doing the girl no favor to leave 
it entirely up to her.  It puts her on the spot.

Caroline: All right, Wally, on Saturday at five then.  Bye.

Narrator: Well, that phone call didn't go on for hours.  Shows a 
pretty sensible attitude towards phone conversations too.  Caroline 
keeps a date calendar.  Not a bad idea.  She'll never have the 
embarrassment of forgetting a date.  Or of being ready an hour too 
late.  Hmm, that's a good note to write yourself.  {Note says: Date 
with Wally 5:00 Do Hair and Nails}  Any night, but especially when 
you're getting ready for a date.

Caroline: There.  You too can do a manicure, Ellie.
Ellie: I might even know what to wear it with tonight, if I only 
knew if Bill dug up transportation to the dance.
Caroline: Are you sure he was going to phone you here at my house?
Ellie: I told him three times.  I have to be getting home to dinner pretty soon.  Take my advice, think twice before you start going steady.
Caroline: Don't you ever go out with anyone else at all?
Ellie: Nope.  
Caroline: Well, don't you ever want to?
Ellie: On nights like this I do.  I never know what he's planned.  He just says, 'Well you decide, Ellie.'  
Caroline: I should think you'd run out of ideas.
Ellie: Oh, I'm getting to that point.
{phone rings}
Caroline: Hello?  Oh, hello, Jerry.  Oh, the props are coming along 
all right.  
Jerry: That's good.  Hey, Caroline.  How 'bout a date?
Caroline: Well, I don't - I don't know, Jerry.  When did you have in 
mind?
Jerry: Well, what are you doing tonight?
Caroline: I'm awfully sorry, but I have a date for tonight, Jerry.  Tomorrrow?  No, I'm sorry.  Well, call me early next week then.
Jerry: Oh - okay, Caroline.  Thanks a lot just the same.  Goodbye.
Caroline: Can you imagine that, Ellie?  He wanted a date for 
tonight.
{cut to boys}
Bill: Sounds like your asking her so late went over like a lead 
balloon, brother.
Jerry: Maybe so.  Well, let's see what else we can do about tonight.

Narrator: No, it isn't too promising for Jerry.  But after all, it's 
no compliment to any girl to call her so late.  She thinks she's the 
very last resort.  And sometimes a girl likes the chance to get 
ready for a date.

{Perky doorbell rings}
Caroline: Hello, Wally, come on in.
Wally: Hello, yourself.  Gee, look at you.  All ready and right on 
time too.  That's a good deal.
Caroline: Thanks.  Mother!  Are you busy?  I'd like you to meet my 
dad.  Dad, this is Wally Johnson.
Father: Well, hello, Wally.
Wally: How do you do Mr. Ames?
Mother: Here I am, darling.  And I suppose this is Wally.
Wally: That's right, Mrs. Ames.  How do you do?
Mother: Well, it's nice meeting you.
Caroline: Oh, excuse me a second.  I forgot my scarf.  I'll be right 
there.
Wally: Don't let me interrupt your evening, Mr. Ames.
Father: Thanks, Wally.  I was just looking into the world of events 
before we go to dinner.
Mother: I tricked him into taking me out tonight.  I understand 
you're having a little trouble with the props for the play.
Wally: Oh, not too many now.  Much as I hate to admit it though, 
Caroline has hunted down a lot of things that we couldn't find 
anyplace.
Caroline: Here I am.  All set?
Mother: Oh, Caroline, I made some brownies today.  Maybe you and 
Wally would like some when you get back.
Caroline: There's some milk in the ice box, too, isn't there?  How 
does that sound?
Wally: Gee, that sounds good.  We'll take you up on it Mrs. Ames.  Thanks.

Narrator: Caroline and her mother have found one a girl can repay a 
boy for entertaining her.  A bite to eat at her house will save him 
money.  Perhaps they'll bring another couple home with them.  That 
would be fun.

Wally: Folks now when we'll be home?
Caroline: We'll be home before 11, mother.

Narrator: Wally and Caroline are saved the embarrassment of the 
argument about coming in at night.  That was settled before Wally 
arrived.  The hour was decided after considering such things as 
where Caroline and Wally are going on their date, whether tomorrow 
is a school date, and how many dates she has had recently.

Mother: Do you have your key, dear?

Narrator: The family knows Caroline will stick to her word.

Mother: All right.  Have fun, you two.
Wally: I'll take good care of her, Mrs. Ames.  Bye.
Caroline: Bye.
Mother: Good bye.
Father: Good bye.

Narrator: Wally felt at ease with Caroline's parents and will be 
eager to return to her home.  They liked him, too.  He is proud to 
be with Caroline because she looks well, is friendly with everyone 
and is considerate of their feelings.  She likes him for these same 
reasons.  And also because he is fun to be with.  Home, parents, and 
personality all help boys and girls to be popular.

{fade out with happy music}